Abergowrie College kept concerns of alleged pedophile network secret from police for 30 years Report

A shocking report has revealed Catholic Education waited nearly 30 years before telling police of its concerns about a possible network of alleged sexual predators at a North Queensland school.

David John Crisp, a former boarding master and teacher’s aide, now 57, was this week pleaded guilty to one count of indecent treatment of a child in his care, for the sexual abuse of one of the boys in 1993.

• Editor’s view: Justice at last

Catholic education told police of its concerns about a possible network of alleged sexual perpetrators at a North Queensland school - including its principal - nearly 30 years after young boys first began to make abuse claims, a shocking report has revealed.

The internal report obtained by The Courier-Mail details the alleged sexual abuse of seven boys and harassment of two others at Abergowrie College in the 1990s and suggests there was a reluctance from the school to properly investigate the claims or report them to authorities.

While some material was handed to police in 1993 when an investigation was underway into one alleged abuser, it was not until 2022 that police were provided a complete file, listing multiple abuse allegations relating to multiple staff members.

Townsville Catholic Education executive director Jacqui Francis on Tuesday said the handling of the child sexual abuse matters within the school was “completely inadequate”.

The report detailed how principal Jim Doran, who would later be convicted of child sex offences at another school, even re-employed fellow pedophile David Justin Crisp at the school, near Ingham, after boys had made a series of abuse allegations against him.

Crisp, a former boarding master and teacher’s aide, now 57, was this week pleaded guilty to one count of indecent treatment of a child in his care, for the sexual abuse of one of the boys in 1993.

David Justin Crisp a North Queensland teacher who fled the country after sexually abusing a boy in a boarding school dormitory has finally faced justice, after he was arrested on a 30-year-old warrant issued after he left Australia. Picture from court documents

He was originally charged in relation to the alleged abuse of three boys but the Crown discontinued those matters after realising two of the boys were dead.

At the time of his complaint, five other boys had told the school of alleged sexual abuse or harassment by Crisp, according to the report, with police at the time not privy to the allegations.

Shockingly, Crisp was re-employed at the school by Doran in 1992 as a teacher aide and boarding master despite his resignation two years earlier prompted after four boys made allegations - including two of sexual abuse.

Crisp fled the country to Vanuatu after he became aware he was under police investigation for the 1993 offending.

He was only recently arrested on a 30-year-old police warrant when he went to visit his mother in Toowoomba after living overseas.

The internal report by Catholic Education details how former Ingham detective Alastair McDougall requested Crisp’s file after the boy’s sexual complaints, however the school said the previous allegations had been resolved.

It was not until later that year that the school handed over Crisp’s file, after he is understood to have fled.

Doran in 1994 was told he would not have his principal’s contract renewed after an investigation found he had a fixation with sexual issues, masturbation and would take students away at night.

Doran was later convicted and jailed for child sex offences at St John’s College, Woodlawn, from his previous employment. He died in jail in 2018.

The internal documents reveal Doran also abused boys at Abergowrie and one of his victims was laced with drugs during a one-on-one “counselling session” where he was abused.

The documents, prepared by Townsville Catholic Education Student Protection, also reveal other young boys made reports of abuse against multiple other staff, some who had previously worked with Doran in other schools.

St Teresa's College, Abergowrie

Responding to reports on Tuesday, Townsville Catholic Education executive director Jacqui Francis said the handling of the child sexual abuse matters within the school was “completely inadequate”.

“We have welcomed and embedded legislative changes and prioritised student protection within our current system’s policies and procedures and are committed to assisting investigations for victims to receive justice, healing and compensation,” Ms Francis said.

“We acknowledge historical abuse and the pain and suffering that past students have been subjected to.

“No student or family should be subjected to this pain which is why student protection is our organisation’s number one priority.”

Ms Francis said historical records show Crisp was to have his employment suspended before he fled the country.

Records show Townsville Catholic Education shared information with police about Crisp in December 1993 - two months after police initially asked the school for information and was told the incident was “resolved”.

Ms Francis said they had since developed a student protection team with a strong staff vetting process.

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Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek described the report as horrifying.

Our recruitment process is thorough, ensuring that all staff have the correct qualifications and state legislative requirements.

“New staff to our organisation must complete student protection training and subsequent compulsory refresher training occurs annually. Volunteers within our schools must also complete student protection training.

“Our student protection training for teachers, staff, students and volunteers focuses on the importance of reporting any concern, regardless of how insignificant it may seem.”

Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said he had sought an “immediate briefing” from the Queensland Catholic Education Commission about the “horrifying incidents that occurred at the Catholic school around 30 years ago”.

Originally published as Abergowrie College kept concerns of alleged pedophile network secret from police for 30 years Report