AUSTRALIA
Sydney Morning Herald
[with video]
Royal commission: former Knox headmaster Ian Paterson’s testimony raises more questions than answers
After six days of damning claims that Dr Ian Paterson actively covered up evidence of child sexual abuse during his time as headmaster of Knox Grammar School, the time had come for him to explain the inexplicable.
Why did he fail to inform the police when he learned that teachers at his school were, at best, behaving inappropriately with students? Why did he allow one teacher, Craig Treloar, to continue working at the school after being caught watching hard core pornography with students? Why did he allow suspect teachers to “resign” with glowing references which allowed them to go on to work at other schools?
These are questions the 81-year-old former headmaster grappled with in the stand before a hearing room packed with old boys, their families and supporters at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
As is the case with many who give evidence at this royal commission, Dr Paterson issued a sincere apology before undergoing questioning by counsel assisting David Lloyd.
“As headmaster I am responsible for all that occurs during my headmastership,” he began.
“There were matters that I knew about and other matters that I did not. However, without doubt I should have known and I should have stopped the events which led to the abuse and its tragic consequences for those boys in my care and their families.”
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