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	Court Hears Boys Describe Abuse by Priest By Julian Drape Herald Sun October 10, 2007 http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22562208-29277,00.html A CATHOLIC priest sexually abused a number of teenagers at a boys' home in southern Sydney in the late 1980s, a court has been told. Father Paul Evans was dorm master at Boys' Town Catholic boarding school at Engadine at the time of the alleged incidents. During committal proceedings in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today, Magistrate Robyn Denes was told Mr Evans molested the boys in the dormitory and during weekend fishing and camping trips. Mr Evans has been charged with 23 child sex offences. The court was told audio tapes of three interviews with the alleged victims, who cannot be named, conducted in 2004 by private investigator Michael Eccleston, who was employed by the Catholic church. In one, a former boarder said Mr Evans "used to get butter between my legs and lie on me... then he'd put his penis there between my legs". The man, who was 13 when the alleged incidents started, said Mr Evans also fondled him, masturbated him and performed oral sex on him. During the interview, Mr Eccleston asked the alleged victim if he signed off a birthday card to Mr Evans at the time with "your bum chum". "I possible could have, I was a young teenager," the man replied. Another former Boys' Town boarder told Mr Eccleston that Evans fondled him "regularly". "I just wish it never happened," he said, adding that he had struggled to develop meaningful relationships ever since. In cross-examining Mr Eccleston, Mr Evans' barrister Bernard Niven asked the private investigator if he warned the alleged victims the interviews could be used as evidence in a criminal trial "down the track". He said any suggestions or conclusions which Mr Eccleston put to the men could have had a "disastrous" effect on the form of their evidence. Mr Niven also grilled the police officer in charge of the criminal investigation over whether she warned the alleged victims not to discuss the incidents among themselves to ensure there was no perception they'd "put their heads together". "I told them not to discuss it," Detective Senior Constable Megan Marks replied. "I can only advise them." The court was told Mr Evans had faced similar charges in 1988, which were dismissed. Throughout today's hearing Mr Evans sat quietly in court taking notes. The committal hearing continues.
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