QUEENSLAND Government to Meet with Morcombes over Allegations of Child Abuse Levelled against Foundation Adviser

9 News
April 16, 2015

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/04/16/13/08/disgraced-child-safety-director-launched-education-for-morcombe-foundation

Former Catholic brother Brett O'Connor leaves the Magistrates Court in Tweed Heads. (AAP)

The Queensland government will meet with Bruce and Denise Morcombe after child sex abuse charges were laid against the man who helped set up the education curriculum for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

Former Queensland Director of Child Safety Brett Anthony O'Connor, also a former Catholic brother, was arrested in March and accused of indecently assaulting two 12-year-old boys at schools in Sydney more than 25 years ago.

Police allege the assaults occurred at schools in Hunters Hill in 1987 and Campbelltown in 1989.

Bruce Morcombe, the father of 13-year-old Daniel who was assaulted and killed in December 2003, said he and his wife Denise were in shock at the news, but stressed the revelations would not impact upon the foundation, reported The Courier Mail.

"We had a number of meetings with him," Mr Morcombe said.

"He was very easy to deal with - in fact, I found him very helpful.

"I stress the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum will not have a negative impact because of the allegation made against Brett O'Connor," he said.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe. (AAP)

Today, Education Minister Kate Jones said she was "absolutely confident" the scheme was still set up properly, however she planned to meet with Mr and Mrs Morcombe to discuss the allegations.

"The premier and I will be meeting with the Morcombe family," she said.

"Obviously I feel for (them) having gone through another distressing situation.

"It's very distressing when any person in a position of responsibility gets charged with such offences."

Mr O'Connor was the action officer in the launch of the foundation's safety curriculum in 2012. The foundation was set up in Daniel's memory to educate children about personal safety.

Education Queensland suspended Mr O'Connor from his job after he advised the department he'd been charged. The department said his role did not require direct contact with children.

Ross Tarlinton, the headmaster of St Joseph's College in Hunter's Hill where abuse allegedly occurred said the school would not provide "commentary" on the issue and was fully cooperating with police.

"The College and the Marist brothers are committed to the highest standards of professional conduct to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of young people in our schools today," a letter to the school community read.

"The wellbeing of our young people is an absolute priority at the College."

Earlier this week a magistrate in the Tweed Heads Local Court refused to suppress Mr O'Connor's name.

Mr O'Connor's lawyer, Phillip Mulherin, said the identification of his client would cause "undue stress and embarrassment".

Magistrate Michael Dakin refused the request.

Mr O'Connor will face a Campbelltown court on June 10.