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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Press
July 2, 2003

Sex-abuse scandal crosses Tasman
by Yvonne Martin

Seven religious brothers in Australia are under investigation and could face extradition for alleged abuse of boys at a Catholic residential school in Christchurch.

The expansion of the inquiry across the Tasman is the latest development in the child sex-abuse scandal dogging the St John of God Order. One former brother, Bernard Kevin McGrath of Christchurch, already faces 32 sex charges.

Four Christchurch detectives have returned from Australia where they have been investigating the seven brothers who also face complaints from their time at Marylands School.

Six of the brothers are still with the Sydney-based order. They range in age from the mid-60s to 84. The order has said the brothers are living under "house arrest" in two closed communities. Those who have not already retired have been withdrawn from public duties.

The order is paying for lawyers to represent each brother under investigation. It is understood one lawyer did not make his client available for police to interview in Australia.

St John of God has said that any brother refusing to co-operate with the legal process may be expelled from the order.

Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell said his team went to Australia to interview 40 people, including other former Marylands brothers and staff.

"There's a lot of work to be done. A determination will be made in the next couple of weeks as to how we're going to proceed," he said. "Extradition is a possibility."

If so, police would lay charges in New Zealand, then apply for extradition through the New South Wales court system.

Detectives are also liaising with Victorian police who are conducting a similar inquiry. Last year the St John of God Order paid $4 million to 24 Victorian men allegedly abused by religious brothers while in residential care there.

In New Zealand, the order has offered $4 million compensation to 56 former Marylands complainants, with payouts ranging from about $30,000 to $100,000.

The school in Halswell catered for boys with learning or intellectual disabilities until 1984.

Mr Borrell said several fresh complainants had come forward following publicity of the case in the past few months.

"A lot of the complainants have had to build up the courage to talk to the police for a number of reasons," he said.

Some men had been through the prison and mental-health systems themselves, and did not trust the police.

To its credit, the order had repeatedly advised complainants to go to the police, Mr Borrell said.