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	Rapist Teacher Will Get Justice, Bligh Declares By Daniel Hurst Brisbane Times October 5, 2010 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/rapist-teacher-will-get-justice-bligh-declares-20101005-1657f.html?from=brisbanetimes_sb Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has expressed her disgust over “horrifying” child sex offences, declaring a school teacher jailed for assaulting 13 students would receive justice for his crimes. Toowoomba Catholic school teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes, 61, pleaded guilty earlier this year to 44 sex abuse charges, including 10 counts of rape and one count of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child. Byrnes, the school child protection officer at the time of the offences, was yesterday jailed for 10 years, prompting state opposition calls for an appeal to extend the sentence. The sentence, delivered in the Toowoomba District Court yesterday, means Byrnes will automatically be declared a serious violent offender and ensures he will serve a minimum of eight years in jail. The opposition used parliamentary question time today to hammer the government over the sentence, saying time already served meant Byrnes could be released in just six years. Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said an appeal against the sentence was justified. "It is a weak, inadequate and pathetic sentence in the eyes of the people of Queensland," he told Parliament. Deputy opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said Byrnes was “likely to serve less than 12 months for every child he molested or raped”, arguing sentencing laws were too weak. Ms Bligh would not comment directly on the case but said Attorney-General Cameron Dick would take the appropriate time to consider launching an appeal against the sentence. “These are the sorts of crimes that horrify every member of the community and every parent,” she said. “The justice system will continue to work in this case and the processes are yet to be finalised.” Ms Bligh also defended the government's record on toughening up sex offender laws. At least three of the victims claim they were abused after the school principal and the Catholic Education Office failed to act on another student's complaint that she had been sexually abused by Byrnes. Following the sentencing, Toowoomba Bishop Bill Morris reiterated the church's offer of compensation to the victims' families. In July, Bishop Morris made an admission over the church's liability for the sexual abuse. He apologised to the victims and their families and offered an "expeditious" resolution to compensation claims. Bishop Morris said the Toowoomba Catholic diocese had since appointed a Diocesan Student Protection Officer and a child protection visibility audit of all school classrooms and buildings had been undertaken. "Unfortunately, I cannot change what has happened. However, I remain committed to doing everything in my power to ensure events such as these never happen again," Bishop Morris said in a statement yesterday.
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