Desmond Eric Neil Richards: Christian Brother’s horrific acts

A Christian Brother who ran a school with a “harsh” style has told a court he can’t recall the horrific sex acts he committed on young boys. However, he says he believes their accounts.

More than three decades ago Christian Brother Desmond Eric ‘Neil’ Richards was a self-appointed disciplinarian, maintaining order at a school using his personal “harsh” style.

In what he claimed was a “misguided” effort to maintain authority and control of the pupils the religious man committed horrific acts on the young victims.

On one occasion, he self-pleasured himself as he preyed on a male victim.

Desmond Eric Richards in 2014.

On Friday, Richards appeared before Sydney District Court by video link from a room at Hunter Correctional Centre to be sentenced for the fourth time for sexual offences.

Richards has pleaded guilty to 12 offences, including indecent assault and buggery.

The man, aged in his early 80s, gave evidence he did not recall committing the crimes on the young males between 1966 and 1985 but said: “I have read impact statements and I believe them”.

As crown prosecutor Ben Allison probed Richards in cross-examination about his sexual interest in young males, the Christian Brother said he couldn’t cast his mind back to recall his inclinations at the time.

“I can’t say I can remember 30 years ago what my thoughts were at that particular time,” he said. On another occasion, when asked about the motivation behind the sexual offences, he said: “I can’t remember way back then, I find it difficult remembering what I had last night for tea.”

Richards accepted that he had long-claimed the offences were committed due to a “misguided” use of authority and control.

The court heard evidence that the Christian Brother had a role to “run” the school and his style was “harsh”.

Edwards’ counsel Peter Skinner said Richards had been a “good man” in other aspects of his life and said there was no risk of further crimes, noting the fact he had undergone treatment and been deterred by his previous three sentences.

The Christian Brother is currently serving a jail sentence for a similar offence and will be eligible for parole in December.

Mr Skinner urged the court to not impose a further jail sentence arguing that it wouldn’t be an “inappropriate exercise of justice and mercy” as Richards would be on parole and pose no risk to the community.

Judge Donna Woodburne will hand down sentence on December 3.