Former Hutchins priest Fr John Goodwin revealed as the chaplain facing historical child abuse claims

The Anglican Diocese of Tasmania has filed its defence in the case alleging a former Hobart private boys' school priest sexually abused a student. LATEST >>

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THE Anglican Diocese of Tasmania has filed its defence in the case alleging a former Hutchins School priest sexually abused a student.

A statement of claim lodged with the Supreme Court of Tasmania in March alleged Father John Goodwin was the perpetrator of the alleged abuse.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff is a man in his 30s who cites his current address as a prison in Tasmania.

The man is suing the Christ College Trust and the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania for damages, alleging The Hutchins School was negligent in failing to protect him and vet its priests.

According to the court documents, the man claimed he was groomed and/or sexually abused by Fr Goodwin at the school chapel during lunchtimes over a two-week period in the early 2000s.

The abuse allegedly came after Fr Goodwin groomed the boy for two or three months prior, according to the man’s claim.

The priest “emphatically denies” the claims and has not been charged at this time.

In the recently filed defence, the Diocese said it did not admit any allegations relating to sexual abuse and grooming as well as not admitting to having “exercised power and influence at the school including over the board.”

“If Father Goodwin engaged in the [grooming and sexual abuse] conduct alleged by the plaintiff, he was not doing so in the course and/or scope of the license granted to him by the Bishop,” the defence read.

Initial story, March 29, 2021:

FULL details of child sexual abuse allegations levelled against a former Hutchins School priest have been revealed.

A statement of claim lodged with the Supreme Court of Tasmania alleges Father John Goodwin – who is now employed as a chaplain with an exclusive Auckland school – was the perpetrator.

The Mercury has reached out to King’s School in Remuera for comment, but understands Fr Goodwin has taken leave amid the allegations and that the priest “emphatically denies” the claims.

According to the statement of claim, the plaintiff is a 32-year-old man who cites his current address as the Risdon Prison Complex.

The man is suing the Christ College Trust and the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania for damages, alleging The Hutchins School was negligent in failing to protect him and vet its priests.

According to the court documents, the man claims he was groomed and/or sexually abused by Fr Goodwin at the school chapel during lunchtimes over a two-week period in 2001.

The abuse allegedly came after Fr Goodwin groomed the boy for two or three months prior, complimenting him on his body and hair.

“Goodwin asked the plaintiff if he would like to learn more about God and how to play the chapel organ, telling the plaintiff that with Goodwin’s help the plaintiff would get good marks in religion, make his parents proud and help him become a lawyer,” the documents read.

The man claims that on one occasion in the chapel, Fr Goodwin instructed him to “read prayers about love and sin aloud while Goodwin told the plaintiff God loved him” while simultaneously molesting him.

Fr Goodwin allegedly told the boy the following day that if he told anyone, God would punish him and his family.

The man also alleges he was abused by Fr Goodwin after being told to try on altar boy clothes while naked, “as he was required to be stripped of sins”.

The Hutchins School in Sandy Bay. Picture: Supplied

The statement of claim alleges The Hutchins School didn’t take reasonable steps to protect the boy and gave Fr Goodwin “the ability to achieve intimacy with the plaintiff”, failed to provide any or adequate supervision of priests, and failed to seriously investigate “rumours, suspicion and knowledge” of sexual abuse allegations.

The man says he suffered post traumatic stress disorder, polysubstance abuse and suicidal ideation as a result.

Earlier on Friday, the Mercury revealed details of a letter from The Hutchins School confirming it received the statement of claim, with headmaster Rob McEwan saying the school had “no previous knowledge” of the allegations.

“Upon receipt of the writ the school reported the allegations immediately to Tasmania Police,” he said.

“While we aim for openness and transparency in our communications, the claim is yet to be investigated and as such I am unable to provide any additional information other than that we understand the then-chaplain strongly denies all allegations.”

Mr McEwan said child safety at the school was “paramount” and urged anyone in the school community with any concerns to contact the head of school or school counsellors.

In a letter to the King’s School community, headmaster Tony Sissons said he had worked with Fr Goodwin for 14 years and “throughout the whole of that time I have never received a comment or observation which might possibly lead to a concern”.

“Father John Goodwin emphatically denies the allegations, and we have no reason to disbelieve him,” the letter reads.

However, Mr Sissons said by “mutual agreement”, Fr Goodwin would take a period of leave “effective immediately, until these matters have been resolved”.

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