Child Abuse Royal Commission: Brisbane Grammar School Reiterates Apology to Students As Public Hearing Announced
ABC News
Brisbane Grammar School (BGS) has reiterated its apology to former students who were sexually abused by a school counsellor, as a royal commission announces a public hearing in the city later this year. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse said BGS, also known as Grammar, at Spring Hill, and St Paul's School, at Bald Hills, would be the focus of public hearings on November 3 at the Brisbane Magistrates Court. About 70 former students sued BGS in the early 2000s, alleging former school counsellor Kevin Lynch sexually abused them during counselling sessions between 1975 and 1988. The commission will inquire into the responses of the board of trustees, headmasters and other members and staff at BGS to complaints about the behaviour of Mr Lynch. Howard Stack, the chairman of the BGS board, said the school had worked with victims of Mr Lynch "with care and compassion for more than 15 years". "We have unreservedly and publicly apologised to them for what they endured," he said in a statement. "We reiterate that apology today and again encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to do so. "We have cooperated fully with the royal commission and will continue to do so." Child abuse 'goes against everything we stand for at BGS' In a statement, BGS headmaster Anthony Micallef said: "Child abuse is abhorrent and goes against everything we stand for at Brisbane Grammar School. "As a school we have and will continue to be open and transparent about these events with our students, our families, our staff and our community - it is the only way forward. "The public hearings will provide an important opportunity for those who have suffered pain and hurt to be heard, and we acknowledge their courage in coming forward. "We also recognise the royal commission's important work in focussing community awareness on the causes and effects of child sexual abuse." Mr Micallef said it was expected evidence in the upcoming hearing that would be difficult and challenging for the school. "But it is important we hear these courageous men tell their stories," he said. He said Grammar was "a safe place for all students". "We go beyond what governments have now legislated to keep our students safe with comprehensive policies, procedures and strict codes of conduct backed by training of all our staff," he said. "Student wellbeing is central to what we do day-by-day, and the evidence revealed by this royal commission to date emphasises why that must be so." Paedophile teacher died after being charged Mr Lynch took his own life in 1997 after being charged with abusing a student at St Paul's, having moved there after Grammar. The royal commission will investigate the responses to complaints and concerns about Mr Lynch's behaviour at St Paul's, as well as that of another teacher, Gregory Knight. It will also look at the past and current systems of both schools for raising and responding to concerns about child sexual abuse. People or institutions with an interest in the scope of the public hearing has been asked to lodge a written application for leave to appear by October 16.
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