Officer Shifting Pedophile Blame: Church

Australian Teacher Magazine
February 20, 2014

http://www.ozteacher.com.au/news/officer-shifting-pedophile-blame-church/26482

The Catholic Church has accused an education officer of trying to shift the blame over a teacher pedophilia scandal.

Former Catholic education officer Christopher Fry gave evidence at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Brisbane on Thursday.

Fry failed to report allegations of pedophilia against teacher Gerard Byrnes to police in 2007.

He said he hadn’t received sufficient training about his obligations to report abuse and that the Catholic Education Office was understaffed at the time.

Jane Needham SC, for the church, asked Fry if he was trying to minimise his responsibility for failing to report the abuse.

“No,” Fry said.

Needham then asked what other reason he would have to make the claim the office was understaffed.

“You were trying to shift the blame to the … Catholic Education Office for not having someone else in the office,” Needham continued.

But Fry insisted: “No, I’m not trying to shift the blame”.

The former education officer admitted he deeply regretted the harm and suffering students and families endured because of his failure.

“I regret that my performance has been found wanting,” Fry said. “Not that I have a sorrow for myself in that sense but … I regret that I didn’t do better.”