St Patrick’s College deputy principal Richard Brodrick stood down over misconduct handling

A Ballarat catholic boys’ school says it takes student wellbeing seriously after its deputy principal was stood down over his handling of a sexual misconduct allegation.

St Patrick’s College deputy principal Richard Brodrick has been stood down.

St Patrick’s Ballarat principal has moved to reassure parents it takes the safety and wellbeing of students seriously after the school’s deputy principal was stood down over his handling of a student complaint.

Richard Brodrick, who has only been at the school for a year and a half, is under investigation by the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) and has been on leave since the start of term three.

It is understood he allegedly failed to properly follow up an allegation of sexual misconduct by one boy against another and had a verbal altercation with a student.

A number of matters have also been raised by staff.

It is understood that the allegations will be strenuously denied by Mr Brodrick once the investigation begins.

He is not facing any allegations of a sexual nature.

Deputy Principal Richard Brodrick has been stood down.

Edmund Rice Education Australia, which runs the well-known school, notified the CCYP about a complaint regarding Mr Brodrick’s actions.

Yesterday, after investigation by the Herald Sun, the school put out a statement from principal Steven O’Connor restating a “commitment to the safety of our community very seriously”.

“We are unable to comment on any open investigations,” the letter said.

“When St Patrick’s College or EREA (Edmund Rice Education Australia, the body that runs the school) becomes aware of any allegations of a staff member not following appropriate procedures, we will always follow proper processes that may include notifying CCYP or investigating.”

The news has prompted “great concern” for the welfare of victims and survivors of abuse. Many are worried the positive progress made at the school under previous principal John Crowley – who impressed many while acting principal at St Kevin’s College – has been undermined under the current leadership of Steven O’Connor and Richard Brodrick.

One source said: “If St Patrick’s College can’t get this sh*t right after all they’ve been through, then what hope is there? And, on matters of child sexual abuse why does the buck stop with the deputy and not the principal?”

Former St Patrick’s College headmaster John Crowley made headlines when he officially apologised to victims of sexual abuse at the school in 2019. Picture: St Patrick's College Ballarat

Some students have also been disciplined for “doing a Hopoate”, a reference to a rugby league player who stuck his fingers up the backside of other players.

In recent years the school has also been dealing with boys grabbing and squeezing each other’s testicles, a practice known as “nut grabbing”.

Mr Brodrick has been at St Patrick’s College for less than two years after a 17-year stint at St Joseph’s College in Geelong.

Since his arrival there has been a high turnover of more than 50 staff and he has a had a number of “heated” meetings with other teachers.

“People knew Mr Brodrick was on leave but no one knew why,” one school insider said.

“It’s been kept very hush hush.”

“With all the uncomfortable circumstances in Ballarat, the community needs to know about this. It takes a lot of guts for anyone to speak up and something needs to be done,” they said.

A spokesperson for the school said the CCYP investigations “are confidential and St Patrick’s College and our governing body the Trustees for Edmund Rice Education Australia fully respect the process”.

“When EREA becomes aware of any allegations of a staff member not following appropriate procedures we will always follow proper processes that may include notifying CCYP or investigating.

EREA is fully committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff member.”

In 2019 St Patrick’s College revoked honours which it had previously bestowed upon old scholar Cardinal George Pell, including renaming a building and removing his status as a Legend of the Old Collegians Association.

St Patrick’s College was a key location of inquiry for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and seven men from the school gave evidence.

Mr Brodrick’s wife Michelle is the principal of Loreto College.