Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady hit with fresh grooming, child abuse material charges

A Gold Coast primary school principal accused of using encrypted messaging apps to target children overseas faces fresh charges – as his lawyer claims he’s “an innocent man”.

A Gold Coast primary school principal accused of grooming children in the Philippines has been slapped with a stack of fresh charges, as his lawyer claims he is an “innocent man”.

A tense group of parents watched from the courtroom gallery as Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He now faces an additional six charges of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, and one each of grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia and grooming a person to make it easier to engage in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia.

Police allege the grooming offences took place between December 21, 2019 and June 22, 2020.

Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady (right) and blurred police footage of his arrest.

It is alleged Mr Brady sourced child exploitation material at various periods between December, 2019 and August, 2024.

Mr Brady appeared beside his lawyer Eugene O’Sullivan in court, where it was heard the fresh charges were a result of the same investigation that led to his earlier arrest two weeks ago.

His case was adjourned to November 18 and he remains on bail.

Mr O’Sullivan repeatedly interjected when reporters tried to ask questions of his client, saying Mr Brady was “an innocent man” with more than 30 years of “exemplary service” to his profession.

Patric Brady (right) with lawyer Eugene O'Sullivan. Picture: Jessica Paul

Mr O’Sullivan claimed the allegations against the principal would not hold up in court.

When asked what he had to say on Mr Brady’s behalf to the concerned school community, Mr O’Sullivan said: “Show me what the school community has said – why should they be concerned?”

“Only because this outrageous press coverage hasn’t balanced the equation and realised that – guess what – their principal is an innocent man wrongly charged.”

Mr Brady – who stood silently clutching a thick textbook as his lawyer spoke – hurried to a car that soon pulled up outside the courthouse, with its driver heckling journalists before he pulled away.

School principal Patric Brady did not answer reporters' questions as he made his way from the courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

The new charges come just weeks after Mr Brady was arrested at an address in Pimpama following the execution of a search warrant by Taskforce Argos detectives.

The warrant was in connection with a joint investigation involving the Queensland Police Service and the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.

Mr Brady, 54, was charged at the time with three counts of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material and one each of grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia, grooming a person to make it easier to engage in sexual activity with a child outside of Australia, and possessing child exploitation material.

Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady.

It is alleged Mr Brady used encrypted messaging apps to target children in the Philippines, with the earlier grooming charges dating back to between July 14 and September 2 last year.

Police further allege Mr Brady sourced child abuse material several times between April 15 and September 2, 2023.

The former Tara Shire State College principal was initially remanded in custody following his arrest, but was granted bail after making an application in court.

Oxenford State School Principal Patric Brady.

He was banned from using the internet and using or possessing any device that could connect to the internet as conditions of his bail.

Mr Brady has been the principal of Oxenford State School since 2018.

Police said in a statement last month it was not alleged Mr Brady’s offending was related to his employment and there was, at that stage, no indication any children at the Gold Coast school had been targeted.

A Department of Education spokesperson said at the time counselling was being made available to anyone who required it.

Originally published as Oxenford State School principal Patric Brady hit with fresh grooming, child abuse material charges