Former Queensland Catholic School Teacher Brian Dennis Cairns Jailed for Molesting Boys

The Brisbane Times
January 13, 2014

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/former-queensland-catholic-school-teacher-brian-dennis-cairns-jailed-for-molesting-boys-20140113-30qc9.html

A former teacher at Queensland Catholic schools jailed in the 1980s for molesting male students will return to prison, convicted of a string of similar offences.

Former Catholic brother Brian Dennis Cairns, 72, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, to be suspended after nine months, in the District Court in Brisbane on Monday.

Outside court two of Cairns' victims said they were disappointed with the sentence.

"No sentence would have been enough," said one, molested at the age of eight by Cairns.

Another victim aged 50 said he still suffered flashbacks and sleeplessness as a result of the abuse.

Cairns pleaded guilty to sexually abusing students aged between eight and 13 when he worked at two Catholic schools in Brisbane's bayside in the 1970s and 1980s.

Cairns served four and a half years in jail in the late 1980s for molesting 10 students between 1979 and 1984, when he was the principal at one of the schools.

The court heard the offences dealt with on Monday came to light in 2008 when one of Cairns' victims told a counsellor and then police, who contacted other former students.

Prosecutor Belinda Merrin said Cairns systemically abused 18 boys over nine years by fondling them and forcing them to perform degrading sex acts on him or on each other.

Cairns preyed on his victims during camping trips, at his own home and even in the classroom during classes, the court heard.

He plied the boys with alcohol and cigarettes and used threats to keep them silent.

"He embarked on a persistent course of conduct and abused those positions of trust for his own sexual gratification," Ms Merrin said.

"Instead of nurturing and educating young boys placed in his care and control, he blatantly contrived situations in which he could corrupt and abuse them."

Cairns' barrister Viktor Supranowicz said his elderly client's health was failing and he had not offended since 1985, and added that incarceration would likely shorten his life.

Justice Katherine McGinness said a jail term was warranted because of the seriousness of the offences.