Harvest Rain Theatre boss Timothy Noel O’Connor to stand trial for child abuse allegations

Ten charges against a theatre boss accused of sexually abusing multiple children have been thrown out of court this afternoon, but he is still expected to stand trial on close to 50 charges.

Timothy Noel O’Connor arrives at Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 13. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A theatre boss accused of sexually abusing multiple children has had 10 of his charges thrown out by a Brisbane magistrate this afternoon, but he is still expected to stand trial on a remaining 48 charges.

Former Harvest Rain Theatre CEO Timothy Noel O’Connor faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon to hear Magistrate Lewis Shillito’s decision on whether to throw out 15 of his child sex charges.

Mr O’Connor was originally charged with 59 offences including child and adult sexual offences, along with fraud – alleged to have involved seven different victims.

Following cross examination of witnesses earlier this month, his defence team argued there was no case to answer for in respect to 15 indecent treatment charges relating to one of the alleged child victims.

Defence barrister Ruth O’Gorman, KC, argued the complainant’s oral evidence contradicted his written statement to an extent that any reasonable jury would not be able to convict Mr O’Connor on those charges.

Timothy O'Connor outside of court earlier this month. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

She had conceded a prima facie case on Mr O’Connor’s remaining charges.

Mr Shillito delivered his decision on Friday afternoon to throw out some, but not all, of the 15 charges Ms O’Gorman had argued for.

He said the question he must consider was not whether a jury would find Mr O’Connor guilty, but whether they could find him guilty of the charges if the evidence was taken at its highest.

Mr Shillito ultimately found there was a case to answer for on charges 11 to 15 – all indecent treatment of a child under 16.

He said the complainant’s account of those allegations was “lacking in detail” and that there were some differences between his oral account and statement.

But he said he had nevertheless provided an account that was “consistent to an extent”.

For charges 16 to 25, however, Mr Shillito found that there were more significant differences between the complainant’s oral evidence under cross examination compared to his original statements.

He said the two different versions of events had rendered the evidence for those counts so unreliable that no reasonable jury would be able to convict Mr O’Connor of those charges.

Charges 16 to 25, which were all counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, were dismissed.

Mr O’Connor was committed to stand trial on 48 remaining charges, including 31 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, nine counts of sexual assault, three counts of common assault, and five counts of fraud.

He chose not to say anything or enter any plea when called upon.

One remaining charge of observations in breach of privacy was adjourned to June 25, 2025, for mention.

Mr O’Connor will remain on bail under conditions that he reside in Ferny Hills, not contact the complainants, and not return to the Harvest Rain Theatre.