Mid North man sues Salesian Order alleging it failed to prevent sexual abuse by pedophile Brother Gregory Vincent Coffey

A Mid North man has made explosive allegations against one of the world’s oldest Catholic orders in a $5 million negligence lawsuit that spans years and states.

A Catholic order knew one of its brothers had sexually abused three students in Victoria before it transferred him to an SA school where he committed 16 more crimes, a $5 million lawsuit claims.

The Supreme Court has been asked to award damages against the Salesian Society for its negligence over, and vicarious liability for, convicted pedophile Brother Gregory Vincent Coffey.

In his court papers, a now-adult man alleges he was physically and sexually assaulted by Coffey, also known as Gregory Vincent Coffin, at a Mid North school in 1971.

He alleges that followed Coffey’s abuse of three boys in Victoria but predated his indecent assault of an SA youth in 1971.

A 1969 Yearbook photo of Brother Gregory Vincent Coffey. Picture: Supplied.

He further alleges his abuse was part of a course of conduct that saw Coffey commit 16 sex crimes against boys aged between 11 and 14.

Coffey, he alleges, abused his victims in the school’s confessional, sacristy, sports shed and tuckshop, and even on its oval.

“The order knew that Coffey had sexually assaulted students (in Victoria) and had been reported for it, and Coffey was transferred (to SA) because of those reports,” he alleges.

“The order transferred Coffey in circumstances where he was known to be unsuitable for appointment or to be allowed to reside on school grounds.

“The order knew there was a risk of physical and sexual assault of children at the school by Coffey … that risk was not insignificant.”

In February 1972, Coffey was convicted of indecently assaulting a Mid North youth two months earlier.

In 1994 and 1997, he was convicted of having indecently assaulted three students at Rupertswood College, Victoria, between 1967 and 1970.

Coffey died in Tasmania in 2007 while on bail for further alleged offending against boys in both states from 1972 onwards.

Coffey in 1969. Picture: Supplied.

In 2022, a group of 11 men sued the Salesian Society alleging Coffey had abused them, at St Mark’s School in Port Pirie – three of those claims were settled out of court.

In his court papers, the Mid North man alleges Coffey struck him repeatedly, including once with a “hammer fist”, and stabbed him in the hand “with a brass compass”.

He further alleges he was thrown onto floors, pinned against blackboards and sexually assaulted by Coffey.

“At all material times, Coffey was a teacher, sportsmaster and sports coach residing (at the school) and had ongoing access to the boys at the school,” he alleges.

In its defence papers, the Salesian Society admits Coffey was one of its teachers at “three high schools in Victoria and two in SA”.

However, it denies it had “a positive duty to take positive steps to protect” the man “from the criminal acts of a third party”, namely Coffey.

The case returns to court in October.