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The Press
October 7, 2003
Case a clamour for cash - lawyer
by Dean Calcott
The
lawyer for a former brother charged with sexual offending at St John of God
Marylands says the case appears to have become a "clamour for cash"
and "scramble for payment".
A depositions hearing for Bernard Kevin McGrath, 56, who faces 33 charges
relating to alleged sexual abuse of boys aged under 16 at the school, was due
to begin yesterday.
However, Nigel Hampton, QC, said issues surrounding the case made a longer
depositions hearing necessary.
The St John of God order, which has paid compensation to many former pupils at
the Christchurch school, appeared to have a policy of "you say it and we
pay it", Mr Hampton said.
He said the matters had to be seen in the context of a "snowball"
effect made up of vested interests and the readiness of the order to pay up,
plus the intense media interest in the case, he said.
All of that led to the case having to go to a full depositions hearing, he
said.
Justice of the Peace Colin Fisk remanded McGrath on bail to appear again in
February for a two- week depositions hearing.
His bail conditions included that he live where directed, non- association with
people under 16, non-association with former students at
A condition McGrath report to police three times a week was withdrawn.
Mr Hampton told the court more time was needed for the hearing, in which some
of the complainants might give evidence.
McGrath, who grew up in
The school in Halswell catered for boys with learning or intellectual
disabilities and closed in 1984.
St John of God has been negotiating compensation settlements with some earlier
complainants.