POLICE have confirmed that investigations into alleged indecent assault of students at a Catholic school in Goulburn have not ended.
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Detective Sergeant Matt Woods said investigations were still underway on Brother William Standen and several other people in authority at the former St Patrick’s College.
He was the first of two Christian Brothers recently charged with indecent assault of boys at St Patrick’s College in the 1970s and 1980s. Standen is facing 29 charges of indecent assault on a male, between 1978 and 1981.
Another as yet unnamed former brother was charged with nine counts of indecent assault of a male and one count of act of indecency on Monday.
The 75-year-old Cootamundra man will face that town’s Local Court on Monday, December 1. He is on conditional bail.
Police alleged this matter involved five boys at schools in Manly and Goulburn between 1973 and 1976.
The charges came after Strike Force Charish was established in August to investigate historical allegations of indecent assault on children at the College.
The Brothers’ involvement at St Pat’s was winding down by the mid 1990s, according to Dr David Bollen’s book, ‘Up on the Hill: A History of St Patrick’s College.
The boys College merged with Catholic girls school, Marian College in 2000 to become Trinity Catholic College.
“Police continue to speak to a number of people who have come forward and are assisting us with our enquiries,” DS Woods said.
“We have found that the public appeal for information has assisted the investigation greatly and people have taken some confidence that others (ex-students) have come forward.
“Any person with information is urged to contact Hume Local Area Command detectives.
Information will be treated with the utmost confidence.”
Meantime, the Christian Brothers Oceania will not comment on whether it was aware of these allegations earlier and if so, whether it took steps to investigate.
“Both matters raised by the Goulburn Post are currently the subject of separate judicial proceedings and respect for the independence and impartiality of those processes prevents the Christian Brothers Oceania from making any comment at this time,” a spokesman said.
“More broadly, the Christian Brothers fully cooperate with investigations into allegations of historic abuse and we urge any person with any evidence of criminal conduct to take that to the police for the appropriate investigation.”
In a statement following Bro Standen’s arrest, the order described the allegations as serious and said they were “rightly before the courts.”
“I would take this opportunity to restate that the Christian Brothers condemn child abuse of any form, without exception,” Province Leader of the Christian Brothers Oceania, Brother Peter Clinch said in August.
“I reiterate our apology to anyone who has been harmed and continues to suffer as a result of the past actions of some of those in our Order.
“Further, I would ask any person who has evidence of criminal conduct to take that to the Police for the appropriate investigation.
“Child protection is the Christian Brothers’ highest priority and the stringent policies and procedures in place, backed by mandated government regulations, give full effect to that commitment.”
DS Woods said the order had been very helpful with the investigation and was instrumental in facilitating Brother Standen’s return to Australia from East Timor in August.
He did not have prior knowledge of his arrest at Sydney Airport.
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