Ex-principal Due Back at Abuse Inquiry

Australian Teacher Magazine
February 18, 2014

http://www.ozteacher.com.au/news/qld/ex-principal-due-back-at-abuse-inquiry-2/26448

A Catholic principal who decided not to tell police about sex abuse complaints against a teacher will continue giving evidence to the royal commission on Wednesday.

Terence Hayes was the principal of a Queensland primary school when teacher Gerard Byrnes sexually abused 13 young girls in 2007 and 2008.

Byrnes, who is now in jail for his crimes, was allowed to keep teaching at the school after the first complaint was made, and went on to assault other girls.

Hayes has already told the royal commission into institutional sexual abuse that he didn’t tell police about the abuse claims concerning Byrnes because he didn’t want to compromise the bishop.