Mid-trial settlement in St Virgil’s College sex abuse case, as lawyer praises ex-student’s bravery

The lawyer representing a former St Virgil’s College student who was suing the school and its founders for alleged physical and sexual abuse has confirmed the civil matter has settled mid-trial.

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The lawyer representing a former St Virgil’s College student who was suing the school and its founders for alleged physical and sexual abuse has praised her client’s bravery in bringing the case to court, after confirming the civil matter had settled mid-trial.

David, not his real name, had accused former St Virgil’s sports coach Stephen Randell of sexual abuse, and three staff members of physical abuse, during his time at the Hobart school during 1977 and 1981.

David’s lawsuit also included a claim against the Christian Brothers, who founded and then ran the college, for vicarious liability of the staff mentioned.

With a trial that began last week expected to resume on Monday, lawyer Angela Sdrinis confirmed the matter had been settled over the weekend.

The lawyer representing a former St Virgil’s College student who was suing the school and its founders for alleged physical and sexual abuse Angela Sdrinis confirmed the matter has been settled. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

“I would like to honour the bravery of my client in coming forward and putting himself through the rigours of giving evidence and I would like to thank the many former St Virgil’s students and other lay witnesses who came forward to give evidence,” Ms Sdrinis said.

“My client’s experiences in the witness box show how traumatic our adversarial legal process can be for abuse survivors.”

During his time in the witness stand last week, David stated he had been sexually abused by Randell on two occasions – at a school camp in Conningham Beach in 1979, and at his home on his 12th birthday.

The complainant gave evidence that Randell – a teacher who was also the school football coach - had been assigned to his hut with other students, and that the abuse had been perpetrated on two separate nights of the camp.

David alleged Randell had abused him in his car, and on the floor of the hut.

The former student said he gave had given evidence about the abuse to the 2015 Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse.

St Virgil's College in 1950. Picture: UTAS

David also told the Supreme Court trial about the alleged physical abuse of three Christian Brothers, who he named as Brother Doolan, Brother Tom Edmunds and Brother Trevor Parton.

The complaint detailed a regime of corporal punishment by the Brothers, of receiving punishment in front of the whole school, and having been put in a sleeping bag by one of them and thrown down a set of stairs.

David also gave evidence that he had told other people he believed there was a “pedophile ring” at St Virgil’s, claiming the sexual abuse of other students was captured on a camera.

In a statement following the settlement, the Christian Brothers Oceania Province said although it did not comment on the outcome of civil proceedings, it took allegations of abuse at its facilities very seriously, and urged anyone with a complaint of criminal conduct to contact police.

“We also encourage any person wishing to make an application for redress and or compensation to come forward through the various paths available including the independent National Redress Scheme or through their own legal representation,” the statement read.

“That any child has been harmed when under the responsibility of the Christian Brothers is a matter of profound regret and we apologise unreservedly.”