Anthony Caruana: Priest guilty of abusing 12 boys at Southern Highlands school

A priest who sexually abused boys at a Catholic boarding school in the Southern Highlands during the 1980s has finally been held to account after a jury returned its verdict.

A Catholic priest has been found guilty of sickening child sex offences against a dozen boys under his care at a Southern Highlands college dating back to the 1980s.

Father Anthony “Tony” Caruana, 79, from Kensington, was found guilty this week of 26 historic child sex offences following a lengthy trial in the NSW District Court.

The jury, of 10 women and two men, deliberated for over a week before returning a guilty decision on 26 charges.

The jury was hung and could not reach a decision on one further charge and the judge previously directed the jury to find Caruana not guilty on another two charges during his trial.

Anthony Caruana. Picture: James Gourley

There were hugs from people at the back of the courtroom after the verdicts were given.

He was taken into custody on Wednesday following a detention application made by the Crown prosecutor.

Caruana abused 12 boys aged between 11 and 15 during the 1980s while working at Chevalier College in Burradoo, a Catholic school near Bowral, run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts.

The priest was employed at the college between 1982 and 1989 and performed the roles of dormitory master, religion teacher, rugby coach and bandmaster.

Caruana (right) leaves the court with his lawyer and a supporter on Tuesday.

The jury heard he indecently assaulted victims during that time inside his office, including under the guise of providing medical treatment for rashes or sporting injuries.

The jury also heard his shocking offences included serious acts of sexual abuse and he even sexually assaulted boys while coaching rugby and while at a swimming carnival.

The Crown prosecutor told the jury Caruana held a fear of being “found out” and he filled out a questionnaire in 1989 which documented his “sexual problem”.

The prosecutor also told the jury Caruana abused his position and told one of his victims “God will love you if you do what I say”.

Father Anthony Caruana. Picture: James Gourley

Caruana denied all the allegations but has now been found guilty of the bulk of his charges – over three decades on from the offending.

Caruana will be back in court on August 18 for a sentence hearing.

The court recommended, after he was denied bail, that he be placed in segregation in prison given the nature of his offences and his age.

The charges he was found guilty on include multiple counts of assault and act of indecency on person under 16, indecent assault on person under 16 under authority, and homosexual intercourse teacher of pupil aged over 10 but under 18.