Former Carey Grammar students urged to come forward over historic abuse allegations

Former Carey Grammar School students are being urged to come forward with information over allegations of historic sexual abuse involving a teacher at the prestigious school.

Former Carey Grammar students are being asked to come forward with information about historic child sex abuse. Picture: David Crosling

Former Carey Grammar students are being asked to come forward with information about allegations of historic child sex abuse involving a teacher.

It comes as a former student from St Patrick’s College in Sale, has filed a writ in the Supreme Court seeking multimillion-dollar damages from the Marist Brothers and the Diocese of Sale.

Law firm Maurice Blackburn is investigating allegations of sexual abuse at Carey Grammar in Kew between 1960 to 1975 relating to a former staff member.

It’s alleged the abuse occurred during training sessions and in the coach’s office under the guise of a physical examination or treatment for sport.

Earlier this year, the Herald Sun revealed a number of former students alleged they were sexually abused and groomed by multiple teachers at the school.

Law firm Maurice Blackburn is investigating allegations of sexual abuse at Carey Grammar. Picture: AAP

Maurice Blackburn Lawyer Alex Nichol said the firm was representing one victim and encouraged other witnesses to come forward.

“Given the historical nature of the cases it can be challenging to find evidence. The nature of child abuse is that it happened generally behind closed doors and the perpetrators abuse in secret, which means there are rarely any witnesses to the actual abuse,” Ms Nichol said.

“But there may be people that can provide information about a perpetrator and also provide crucial context and background information to help build up a client’s case,” she added.

Ms Nichol said it was well-known within the student community that the former staff member was a “problem”.

“This was well known among the student population and we believe that it was likely known among staff,” she said.

Carey Grammar principal Jonathan Walter said the school had been made aware of a law firm who was seeking witnesses regarding allegations of historic sexual abuse at the school.

“This law firm has not reached out directly to the School with any information or inquiry,” Mr Walter said.

“Carey takes such matters seriously and continues to welcome any member of our school community to contact the school if they have been subjected to sexual abuse while at Carey so that we may offer care and appropriate support.

“The school has very clear and strong student protection measures in place as well as stringent standards in the selection, training and management of all staff and we are committed to ensuring Carey provides an environment where students feel safe and happy and can thrive.”

The alleged offending at Carey happened between 1960 to 1975. Picture: David Crosling

In another case at St Patrick’s College, a former male student, who was not a teenager at the time and is now almost 60, was allegedly physically assaulted, groomed, molested and terrorised over a two-year period in the late 1970s while he was a boarding school student.

It’s alleged the abuse included being grabbed on the penis and testicles, violently punched and repeatedly beaten with a cane to the buttocks.

His alleged perpetrators include Paul Noonan who took his life in 2018 after facing 24 criminal charges arising from the school.

Child abuse advocate Michael Advocate (a pseudonym) said the victim “was brutalised, molested and terrorised by three leaders of the boarding school”.

“A child’s brain cannot withstand that intensity of stress and trauma at such a young age, for such an extended period of time,” Mr Advocate said.

The claim relies on psychiatrist’s reports that state the victim suffers permanently from PTSD, severe anxiety, major depressive disorder, unspecified sexual dysfunction, and unspecified personality disorder.

It comes as courts are regularly overturning settlements and instead awarding up to $2.6m to individual victims.

The victim was an alcoholic at 16, has a history of failed relationships, is broke and has lived in a vehicle for more than three years. He has had multiple breakdowns and has been

permanently incapacitated for almost a decade, Mr Advocate said.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sex Abuse found that the Diocese of Sale was one of the worst in Australia for clergy members abusing children, with 63 victims from St Patrick’s College alone.

Originally published as Former Carey Grammar students urged to come forward over historic abuse allegations