March 06, 2006

St John of God head under fire

NEW ZEALAND
NZ City

6 March 2006

The head of the Australasian St John of God order has come under fire for the way he handled compensation payments in regards to allegations of sexual abuse at Marylands School during the 1970s.

Brother Peter Burke gave evidence today in the High Court trial of former Christchurch religious brother Bernard Kevin McGrath.

He is on trial on multiple counts of sexual abuse of boys.

Brother Burke told the court that approximately $5.1 million was paid out to complainants who contacted the Catholic Church in 2002.

Posted by kshaw at March 6, 2006 07:24 AM