Francis William Cable: Marist brother paedophile known as Br Romuald dies in jail

The former teacher and headmaster known as Br Romuald, who systematically abused at least 20 boys while in his position of power, has died aged 90 while facing more charges.

Notorious paedophile principal Francis William Cable, the former Marist brother known as Br Romuald who abused more than 20 schoolboys over more than 15 years, has died.

Cable died in Prince of Wales Hospital on Monday morning after being transferred from Long Bay jail, where the 90-year-old was serving two sentences for child sex offences and awaiting a trial on more allegations next year.

The former Hunter Marist brother was first sentenced in 2015 to a maximum 16 years’ jail for sexually assaulting 19 schoolboys in NSW over a 15-year period.

Cable preyed on the boys while he taught at Catholic schools at Hamilton and Maitland, as well as in Sydney, between 1960 and 1974.

Marist Brother Francis William Cable, also known as Br Romuald, who is charged with abusing 21 boys, arriving at Downing Centre Courts in Sydney on September 2, 2014.

When he was sentenced to a minimum eight years in jail in 2015 after a judge said he had systematically abused his position of power as a teacher and schoolmaster, victims and supporters cheered and clapped.

“(He was) capable of determining their vulnerability. Indeed it seems he might have picked his victims because of their frailties,” NSW District Court Judge Peter Whitfield said in sentencing.

“Inevitably, (the abuse) has profound impacts on their lives.

“It is one of the many reasons this kind of offending is so abhorrent.”

In 2019, Cable was again in the dock where he was sentenced for a further 19 offences and had his non-parole period increased until at least 2027.

But the twice-convicted paedophile was facing a further trial next year on five further counts of indecent assault when he died on Monday morning from suspected heart disease.