Ex- Christian Brothers Headmaster Desmond Richards Taken into Custody Pending Likely Jail Term for Assaulting Boys

By Sydney Morning Hrald
Paul Bibby
November 7, 2014

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ex-christian-brothers-headmaster-desmond-richards-taken-into-custody-pending-likely-jail-term-for-assaulting-boys-20141107-11ijw5.html

A former Chistian Brothers headmaster has been taken into custody ahead of a likely jail sentence for indecent assaulting young boys in the 1970s and '80s.

Desmond Eric Richards, also known as Brother Neil Richards, pleaded guilty this year to assaulting four young boys aged between 11 and 13 while working at Christian Brothers schools in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Strathfield.

During a sentencing hearing on Friday, the District Court heard that, after assaulting the boys, Richards, now 75, whipped them repeatedly with a strap.

This was an attempt to "dominate and control" the victims to ensure they did not talk about what had happened to them, the court heard.

"This matter needs to be considered in light of the violence shown to the victims at the time," sentencing Judge Peter Zahra said.

"They needed to go to school – they had no alternative. But when they did go they were subjected not only to sexual but also physical abuse."

A number of the victims made complaints to the Christian Brothers in 1997, the court heard.

Richards was referred to an internal counselling and support service but it appeared no action was taken to ensure he was prosecuted for his crimes.

Despite pleading guilty, Richards says he cannot remember committing the indecent assaults.

The court heard evidence that this "memory loss" could have been caused by loss of brain function brought about by Richards' advancing years and a number of recent operations requiring total anaesthetic.

The accused's solicitor, Greg Walsh, said there was "not one scintilla of risk" of his client reoffending and questioned how society would be served "by him spending a single day in jail".

But Judge Zahra disagreed, stating that the need to deter others from committing such serious offences demanded a jail sentence.

"The need for deterrence and community retribution weighs very heavily in favour of full-time custody," he said.

He ordered that Richards, who had been on bail in relation to the offences, be taken into custody before his sentencing on November 27.