|
|
Allegations of Abuse in Institutions |
|
|
|
|
A retired Catholic brother who has been jailed for 2-1/2
years for sexually abusing sick and vunerable boys in his care was sent on a
six-month course by the Church after admitting the abuse. Yesterday, a judge in Wellington District Court was told that
the Catholic Church, which Brother Andrew Cody had devoted his life to, had
known about his offending for years. Judge Bruce Davidson said Cody had told his superiors
about the abuse several years after he retired in 1991. He was subsequently sent on a six-month course in
Australia to receive treatment. Cody, 67, who now lives in Upper Hutt, has pleaded guilty
to two charges of indecent assault, one of doing an indecent act and one of
permitting an indecent act to be done on him between 1981 and 1984. Cody was
a brother at Hato Paora, a Maori boys Catholic secondary school at Feilding. He worked there doing administration work and helping care
for the boys when they became ill but preyed on them sexually. Crown prosecutor Nigel Stone said Cody was in a position
to prey upon boys who were vulnerable when they were unwell. Judge Davidson
said Cody must have been seen as a significant person in the lives of the
boys at the boarding school. Cody had given his life to the Church and was its devoted
servant, he said. However, in later years he had struggled with depression
and intellectual problems. Though it was true Cody, who suffers from heart disease
and hypertension, would find prison difficult with his extremely frail state
of health, there was a breach of trust because he had in part filled the role
of parent to boys who were ill, Judge Davidson said. The judge said even though he was sure Cody would never
reoffend, he would sentence him to 2-1/2 years' jail. Judge Davidson said he could do no better than to read the
words of one of the victims: "I have ... difficulty going to sleep, when
I close my eyes I see my abuser's face," he said when sentencing Cody. Defence lawyer Paul Surridge said Cody's role at the
school had been tasks like opening mail. He had helped in the infirmary but had no formal job
there. Mr Surridge said Cody would have liked to talk to his
victims but the offer had been rejected. As a result of the programme Cody attended in Australia,
he had insight and empathy for his victims and was now getting support from
the Church, Mr Surridge said. |
