The Cathnews
December 2, 2010
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=24383
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The former principal of a Toowoomba school, who was acquitted of charges under mandatory reporting laws for child abuse, has been re-hired as a supply teacher at a Catholic primary school in Ipswich, Queensland, said The Australian.
The news that he was re-employed by the Catholic education sector dismayed some victims' families, who declared him derelict in his duty for not reporting the allegations made in the case of their children, the report said.
Additionally, the newspaper reports that yesterday, families of five girls abused by former teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes reached a settlement with the Catholic Church's Toowoomba diocese to discontinue their legal proceedings.
A further three girls' families are expected to settle their cases next year.
Byrnes, 61, pleaded guilty in April to 44 sexual abuse charges, including 10 counts of rape. Byrnes was sentenced to 10 years' jail. The sentence is being appealed by the Queensland Attorney-General as insufficient.
The principal, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was the first person in Australia to be charged under laws requiring the mandatory reporting to police of suspicions of child-sex abuse.
Lawyer for the families, Damian Scattini, acknowledged efforts by Bishop William Morris, who this year admitted the church's liability in an Australian first.
"The families are relieved that this part of it is over," Mr Scattini said. "They're appreciative that the church, and especially the Bishop, handled it sensibly and they will be able to close this chapter."
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