Theatre boss to stand trial on sex offences charges

The former head of a large theatre group has been committed to stand trial on 48 charges including alleged sex offences against children and adults.

Timothy Noel O’Connor, 43, once the chief executive of the now-defunct Harvest Rain Theatre Company, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday for a decision on whether there was sufficient evidence against him.

O’Connor sat in the courtroom’s public gallery as Magistrate Lewis Shillito handed down his decision.

O’Connor (right) has faced court in Brisbane.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Harvest Rain closed in November 2022 after rising over almost 40 years from a small amateur group in Brisbane to touring nationally while performing Broadway musicals.

During committal hearings this week, O’Connor had challenged 15 charges of indecent treatment of a child, claiming the male alleged victim’s testimony in court had contradicted their prior written statement.

Shillito on Friday found O’Connor had no case to answer on 10 of those charges dating from 2004 to 2006, some of which included allegations of offending in an inner Brisbane unit, and they were dismissed.

“[The alleged victim’s testimony] has led to his account of those matters being rendered so unreliable that no reasonable tribunal would safely convict,” Shillito said.

He said five other charges involving the same alleged victim could proceed to trial as his testimony was not discredited and could have been confused by some questions while on the witness stand.

O’Connor was ordered to stand trial in the Brisbane District Court on a date to be fixed on 32 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, nine counts of sexual assault, four counts of common assault as well as fraud charges.

“I am of the opinion that the evidence is sufficient to go on trial for those offences,” Shillito said.

O’Connor declined to enter a plea and said “no, Your Honour,” when asked by Shillito if he wanted to say anything further in relation to the charges.

The sexual offence charges involved alleged incidents dating between 2001 and 2020 and a total of seven male alleged victims.

O’Connor’s bail was continued and he did not comment as he left court.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (1800RESPECT) on 1800 737 732.

If you, or someone you know, needs support you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

AAP