PEDOPHILE "Treasure" Tag Dreadful: Brother

7 News
November 27, 2012

http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/15487749/pedophile-treasure-tag-dreadful-brother/

The description of a convicted pedophile by his religious order's newsletter as a "treasure" is shattering, the head of the Patrician Brothers says.

Brother Philip Mulhall said Brother Thomas Grealy, who was convicted and jailed for the rape of boys in western Sydney in 1997, said featuring a photo of Br Grealy in the order's newsletter was a dreadful mistake.

Br Mulhall said the contributor should have picked up the inclusion and he himself should have.

"I'm shattered by that," he told ABC television.

Asked why Br Grealy was allowed back into the order after his release from jail, Br Mulhall said the policy at the time was to take responsibility for the members of the order.

"He's our member, he's our problem and we have a responsibility to see that he's not a problem for other people.

"That was the rationale.

"He wasn't brought back into the order, he never really left it."

Br Mulhall said he thought the approach should be re-examined but it was the correct decision at the time.

Lawyer Jason Parkinson is representing five other men who allege they were assaulted by Br Grealy when he was a school principal.

"He should have been shunned, he should have been sent away, he shouldn't have been allowed to stay in the order," Mr Parkinson said.

Br Mulhall said he was very open to the federal government's royal commission into sexual abuse.

"I certainly will co-operate with it completely, even if that means criticism of myself or criticism of my colleagues or criticism of people that I know, so that something really good can be learnt for the future."