ABC News
September 5, 2008
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/05/2356506.htm
The head of the religious order that runs St Stanislaus school in the New South Wales central west has defended its handling of abuse allegations.
The leader of the Vincentian order in Australia, Father Greg Cooney, says the organisation has been aware of complaints since 2002 and has always referred them to police.
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| St Stanislaus College in Bathurst is at the centre of a police investigation into sexual assaults alleged to have happened decades ago. |
"We've always reported it to police when it's obviously of a criminal nature, yes, and you know we urged other complainants themselves to take the matter to the police."
He says the Vincentians have completed their internal investigations into the allegations.
"As far as I'm aware, we have investigated all things that are within our knowledge with regard to this type of abuse," he said.
A Catholic priest, a Catholic brother and a former teacher are facing dozens of charges over allegations of sexual abuse at the Vincentian order's Bathurst school dating back as far as the 1970s.
The former priest, Brian Spillane, is facing more than 90 charges as more victims have come forward since his first court appearance.
He was bailed and will appear in Bathurst Local Court on September 15, but his lawyer has already expressed concern that he will not get a fair trial because of the way the case has been covered by the media.
A special police strike force was set up to investigate claims against Spillane and two other former St Stanislaus staff members.
The investigations have also been widened to include an Anglican secondary school in Bathurst.
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