Abuse survivor complained to school and was told to leave or be expelled

11:28 am on 4 December 2018

An abuse survivor molested at a Catholic college says when he alerted the school, he was given five days to leave or be expelled.

The abuse survivor says leaving the Catholic college probably damaged his academic options. Photo: 123rf.com

The Marist Brothers who ran the school says it's deeply regrettable - but the teacher involved says he can't recall it.

The survivor, who RNZ has agreed not to name, was a prefect at St Bernard's College in Lower Hutt in the 1980s when he left part way through seventh form, or Year 13.

In 2015, his evidence helped convict Brother Patrick Bignell of abusing boys who he took naked and near-naked photos of.

"I went to our form dean and complained about seeing the photos and getting photos taken of me," the man told RNZ.

"He told me to leave it with him. I remember it quite clearly - when he came back to me, it was two or three days later, beside the end of the form class next to the staircase, and told me I had five days to find a job before I was expelled from school.

"Not wanting to let anyone know, that someone had got me to take my clothes off and take photos, I left. And I've hated that school ever since - not the school itself, but those people that were involved in it."

The dean at that time, Dave Harrison, does not remember this, at all, according to the Marist Brothers.

"Mr Harrison says he has no recollection of allegations of abuse being brought to him," the Order said in a statement.

Mr Harrison refused to answer RNZ's questions when we approached him at a Hutt Valley retirement home.

"Listen to this and listen to it carefully, please ... anything you need you can get by ringing Brother Peter Horide," he told RNZ, before shutting and locking his door.

Brother Horide handles sex abuse complaints for the Order but would not answer RNZ's questions, despite repeated approaches.

Instead, the Order issued a statement on behalf of Mr Harrison, even though he has not been a Marist Brother for many decades.

"That a young person who raised a concern about harm was not heard and did not receive support is deeply regrettable," the statement said.

"Any suggestion that a young person was threatened with expulsion for speaking up is unconscionable."

Mr Harrison was a lay teacher at the time, but had been a Marist Brother before that.

Brother Bignell had a big stack of photos of other boys, and he recognised a boy in his year, the survivor said. Four boys in his year were abused, he said.

He dodged the Brother's attempt to remove his underpants, but some boys were photographed naked.

"It bugged me for ages and ages ... and then I decided enough's enough ... thought no, this isn't right, and went to the dean, and then getting kicked out of school - well, who do you trust after that."

Leaving school had probably damaged his academic options, but he also ended up drinking heavily and feeling suicidal, and remained unable to trust people, he said.

During a low period as an adult - he is not sure when ("I buried everything from those years") - he lodged a complaint with the Marists.

He was offered several thousand dollars and they produced a contract to sign to say the agreement was confidential, he said.

This is in line with their treatment of several other victims RNZ has spoken to, or reported on.

He heard nothing more until the police knocked on his door, after a complaint some years ago.

"At the heart of this situation, is the need for great sensitivity and compassion to be extended to both persons involved," the Marist Brothers said. They have not clarified if by this they mean "both" the survivor and Dave Harrison.

The man told his family for the first time just a few days ago and his brother was furious with the Marists. He said he was prompted by other victims of Brother Bignell, Steve Goodlass and Patrick Hill, speaking up.

The survivor believed the principal at the time at St Bernard's, Brother Terence Costello, would have known what happened to him; he claimed this too, about sex abuse of a student by Brother Claudius Pettit (aka Malcolm Pettit), for which he was jailed in the 1990s.

"Br Costello has advised that he had no knowledge of, and was never aware of, any allegations or abuse surrounding these two brothers," the Marist Brothers said.

Brother Costello is now among the Marists' top leaders in New Zealand.

Statements by the Marist Brothers

"Br Bignell and Br Claudius Pettit were both convicted for their offences. We deplore that these offences were perpetrated on young people and we deeply regret the affects on their lives.

"The police will hold details of these convictions and the court process around these. There are active suppression orders in relation to Br Bignell's convictions, which we must abide by.

"Mr Harrison was a lay teacher at the school in Lower Hutt. He had previously been a Marist Brother. Br Costello has confirmed that he did not live with Br Bignell in Lower Hutt. Neither Mr Harrison nor Br Costello are available for interview.

"Adult complainants are encouraged that where historical criminal behaviour is alleged, they should take the matter to the police. The Marist Brothers are committed to cooperating with police, including access to files of the respondent.

"If any person who has a complaint about the conduct of any priest or religious, then it is important they feel safe in bringing these matters forward. The Marist Brothers will share what we can about cases where possible, but we must do so within the law, particularly as the process and timing for the Royal Commission is being established.

"Br Costello has advised that he had no knowledge of, and was never aware of, any allegations or abuse surrounding these two brothers.

"Mr Harrison says he has no recollection of allegations of abuse being brought to him.

"The Marist Brothers encourage anyone who has suffered historical abuse to come forward, to seek support and to take their complaints to Police. That a young person who raised a concern about harm was not heard and did not receive support is deeply regrettable. Any suggestion that a young person was threatened with expulsion for speaking up is unconscionable. At the heart of this situation, is the need for great sensitivity and compassion to be extended to both persons involved.

"Further to your email, as we said previously, Br Costello has advised that he had no knowledge of, and was never aware of, any allegations or abuse surrounding these two brothers. Mr Harrison says he has no recollection of allegations of abuse being brought to him.