Principal Who Failed to Act on Sex Abuse Still in System

By Adam Davies
My Daily News
February 25, 2014

http://www.mydailynews.com.au/news/principal-failed-to-act-sex-abuse/2179489/

FORMER Bishop William Morris said he cannot believe the principal at the centre of the child sexual abuse scandal at a Toowoomba primary school is still teaching in the Catholic education system.

Bishop Morris was highly critical of the school's then principal Terence Michael Hayes and his handling of the scandal which allowed teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes to sexually abuse 13 girls in his class.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse heard Mr Hayes was first made aware of allegations against Byrnes in September, 2007, some 14 months prior to his eventual arrest.

"I think the Catholic Education Office in Brisbane has to review that," he said.

"Through their review hopefully they will come out with the right judgement.

"It has to be reviewed and I think he will find it very difficult to retain a position as a teacher."

Bishop Morris went on to say he honestly believes Mr Hayes still does not think he has done anything wrong.

Mr Hayes is currently teaching at St Eugene Catholic College in Burpengary.