Former Test umpire Steve Randell accused of St Virgil’s historic sexual abuse

The civil case into allegations of historic sexual and physical abuse at Hobart’s St Virgil’s College has called upon a former classmate of the victim-survivor. Why he says the “sound of his sobbing never left me”.

St Virgil's College in 1950. Picture: UTAS

Another former St Virgil’s student has told a Hobart courtroom his memory of the night over 40 years ago that a classmate was allegedly raped and sexually abused, stating the ‘sound of his sobbing never left me’.

The man gave evidence in the Supreme Court civil case launched by former St Virgil’s College student David, not his real name, against the religious order the Christian Brothers who ran the school at the time.

David, aged in his 50s, alleges that during his time as a student of St Virgil’s College from 1977 until 1981 he was sexually abused by sports coach Stephen Randell and physically abused by three of the Christian Brothers Brother Doolan, Brother Tom Edmunds and Brother Trevor Parton and headmaster of the junior school Thomas Burke.

Mr Randell is also a former international test cricket match umpire.

Aust cricket umpire Stephen (Steve) Randell and students enjoying the Moonah Primary schools 80th anniversary celebrations 21 Aug 1991.

On day three of the trial, the court heard from David’s classmate at St Virgil’s who attended the school from grade 4 until grade 12.

In a teary exchange, the classmate recalled in front of Justice Stephen Estcourt the night at a school camp in Conningham in 1979 when David alleges he was raped and sexually assaulted by Mr Randell.

He stated he was “wide awake” when Mr Randell opened the door of their ‘bunk hut’ to check on the sleeping students.

“Then he went across the wall to David’s bed and there was a whispered conversation,” he said.

“I was surprised when David got out of bed and was taken by Randell out of the hut.

“It was a strange occurrence when it was late, dark and we were supposed to be in bed.

“I saw Randell bring David back to the bunk hut and take him to bed and it struck me as odd, it’s almost as if he put David to bed.

“Randell then left the bunkhouse.

“I heard David sobbing and this was another very strange thing to occur because I saw David as a tough little boy with very thick skin who could stand up to teachers.

“The sound of his sobbing has never left me.

“I asked him what’s the matter and David said to me ‘shut up and go to sleep or you will be next’.”

Cricket umpire Steve Randell relaxing prior to First Test Australia v West Indies at The Gabba. Cricket P/

The former classmate also recalled his shared grade 6 year, alongside David, as a “year of fear” with class teacher and head of the junior school Thomas Burke.

The man said he was also physically ‘punished’ by Mr Burke, who frequently used a cloakroom space in the classroom for doling out punishment called the “crying room”.

“Boys would be punished if they did something minor that was wrong,” he said.

“I had such fear of getting into trouble and getting dragged into the crying room, I would do the extra homework set out as another punishment in case.

“My father drove me to Barrack St and I broke down and I cried and I said ‘please don’t send me into there, I cant do it anymore’.”

“The classroom was controlled by that man.”

St Virgil's College logo

David’s older brother, former boss and another former student of Mr Randell were also called to give evidence.

His brother, who now practices law, told Christian Brothers’ counsel headed by Jack Rush KC that he remembered finding out about his brother’s alleged abuse when he was “15 or 16 years old”.

He said he became more of a support person for David and negotiated the abuse claims with him.

The trial will continue for two weeks.

Originally published as Former Test umpire Steve Randell accused of St Virgil’s historic sexual abuse