Brother Allowed to Keep Teaching Despite Abuse Allegations

By Christopher Knaus and Cydonee Mardon
Canberra Times
June 17, 2016

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/brother-allowed-to-keep-teaching-despite-abuse-allegations-20160616-gpkr8v.html

A former Catholic brother has pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting a child at a school in Wollongong, where he was allowed to teach despite two prior complaints of abuse, including one at St Edmund's College.

The first known complaint about John Vincent Roberts, now 73, was made in Christian Brothers schools in NSW at some point before 1978, when he moved to the order's ACT school, St Edmund's.

Here, he allegedly abused another student during his five-year stint in Canberra between 1978 and 1983.

Roberts was allowed to continue teaching, and he moved to Wollongong, where he taught at the prestigious Edmund Rice College.

He again abused a child in Wollongong, this time repeatedly molesting a 12-year-old boy in the late 1980s.

NSW police eventually charged him for the Wollongong offences late last year.

Roberts pleaded guilty to 11 offences when he faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

He will be sentenced in Wollongong District Court on August 11.

The guilty pleas prompted another letter to the school community from St Edmund's College principal Daniel Lawler on Wednesday.

Mr Lawler reiterated the school's calls for anyone who may have been abused in the ACT to go to police.

"The crimes that this individual has pleaded guilty to, do not involve any current or past students or staff of St Edmund's College," he wrote.

"However given he was on staff at the college, we would reiterate our previous call for any person with any evidence of criminal conduct to take that to the police for the appropriate investigation."

In a separate statement on Wednesday, the Christian Brothers Oceania expressed its "profound sorrow and unreserved apology".

"The crimes that have been admitted to represent a deplorable betrayal of trust," the statement said.

"A child in our care had the right to expect every protection from this person and they were tragically let down. To them we extend without reservation our sincerest apology for what has happened."

The Christian Brothers would comment "more fully" once the judicial process including sentencing had been completed.

"We urge any person who has any evidence of criminal conduct to contact the police so that the appropriate investigation can be undertaken."

"Whilst the past cannot be undone, the Christian Brothers are committed to addressing the effects of past abuse through acknowledgment of the suffering that those who have been abused endure and by providing practical assistance to help heal lives."

Police charge sheets presented in court at an earlier hearing claim Roberts' carried out several acts of indecency upon the child.

Police alleged Roberts' sexual attention towards the boy escalated into rape on several occasions.

The incidents were not reported to police at the time, however officers became aware of the accusations after they were aired last year during the Royal Commission hearings into institutional child sexual abuse.

ACT Policing's Operation Attest can be contacted through police operations on 13 14 44. Lifeline is available for support or counselling on 13 11 14.