Brisbane Grammar School’s darkest chapter to be relived at child sex abuse royal commission

PARENTS of prestigious private school Brisbane Grammar have been told to prepare for shocking stories of abuse by a former counsellor.

In this picture from 2000 is Dave, an alleged victim of sexual assault by student counsellor Kevin Lynch at St Paul's College. Picture: Derek Moore

PARENTS of prestigious private school Brisbane Grammar have been told to prepare for shocking stories of abuse by a former counsellor.

Harrowing evidence of students being abused at Grammar and St Paul’s School at Bald Hills will be aired in a public hearing at the child sex abuse royal commission.

Brisbane Grammar School and St Paul’s School part of child sex abuse royal commission

The hearing will scrutinise depraved counsellor Kevin Lynch, who assaulted young boys in closed-door “relaxation” sessions at the schools from the 1970s to 1990s.

Brisbane Boys Grammar headmaster Anthony Micallef advised parents in a letter that the school is about to relive one of its darkest chapters. Picture: Glenn Barnes

Former Anglican archbishop Peter Hollingworth – who was forced to resign as governor-general over his mishandling of sexual abuse cases – is among potential witnesses.

Grammar headmaster Anthony Micallef advised parents in a letter that the school is about to relive one of its darkest chapters.

“There will be evidence that will be difficult and challenging to hear, however we recognise the courage of those who have come forward to tell their stories and we will listen to them with respect,” he wrote yesterday.

He assured parents the school was a safe place for all students and had “unreservedly and publicly apologised” for what had occurred.

“We reiterate that apology today and again encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to do so,” he wrote.

In this picture from 2000 is Dave, an alleged victim of sexual assault by student counsellor Kevin Lynch at St Paul's College. Picture: Derek Moore

Current practices at the schools will also be in the spotlight, with the commission expected to examine accusations Grammar boarders assaulted another young boarder in May.

The nine-day November hearing will also examine St Paul’s over former music teacher Gregory Robert Knight’s sexual abuse of students.

Lynch committed suicide in 1997 after being charged with the sexual abuse of a St Paul’s student, who had worn a wire to capture admissions.

The 64-year-old had counselled thousands of boys at Grammar from 1972 to 1988 before retiring and then being hired the following year to work at St Paul’s.

How the schools responded to Lynch’s abuse will be central to the hearing, with both accused of a cover-up for failing to make any effort to check on the welfare of students he counselled.

His abuse remained a secret until three years after his death when an investigation by The Courier-Mail revealed the criminal charges and allegations he had abused other boys.

After the abuse was made public, numerous boys came forward to report abuse and the schools were forced to pay out millions of dollars in compensation.

St Paul’s last night said it “acknowledges its past failings in response to protecting children” and apologised unreservedly to abuse survivors.

Former students and other parties have been urged to make a written application by October 16 if they want to appear at the hearing.