Allegations of sexual and physical abuse have been reported by eight male ex-students of the former St Paul’s Catholic College, Traralgon following a community awareness campaign launched last Monday.
The campaign is seeking compensation from the Marist Brothers – the administrators of the former Grey Street school – for boys who were allegedly sexually and physically abused at the institution in the 1970s who suffered “mental torture” following their ordeal.
Campaign organiser ‘Michael’, an abuse victim from St Patrick’s Catholic College, Sale, said reports had surfaced of allegations against a second St Paul’s staff member who died before the allegations could be tested in court.
“However, the victims can still seek compensation because they only need to satisfy the balance of probability because this is civil litigation,” Michael, whose real name has been withheld, said.
The campaign seeking legal action is one of three compensation claims against Catholic schools in Gippsland, with a third campaign launched in Warragul today calling on students who allege they were abused while attending St Joseph’s Marist Brothers College to come forward.
Michael said victims who attended St Paul’s in the ’70s were now aged between 50 and 60 and had “predominately experienced sexual abuse but also a high level of physical abuse and mental torture” during their time at the school.
“Every victim that I’ve spoken to so far suffers life-long damaging injuries,” he said.
“A normal male’s brain simply cannot cope with such severe trauma, such as sexual abuse, until they are 17. In this case, the victims were aged between nine and 11 and that’s left them with life long mental scaring which doesn’t allow the brain to function normally.
“Victims need to know that they can get proper and appropriate compensation.”
He assured The Express there was “absolutely no collusion or discussion between any victims” who would remain anonymous to each other through the legal process.
Michael said the allegations of a second offender were strong because there were so many independent reports of abuse.
Melbourne-based law firm Rightside Legal has been appointed to lead the case which is expected to start gathering evidence for a statement of claim to be lodged in the courts later this year.
The information is expected to lead to a group action against the Marist Brothers.
Rightside Legal partner Michael Magazanik said victims could be more confident after new laws quashing a legal loophole preventing child abuse survivors from suing some organisations were passed in parliament on Thursday.
“The church entities cannot hide behind their legal structures to avoid responsibility for abuse purported by priests, brothers and other employees,” Mr Magazanik said.
“When church entities are facing abuse claims they have to nominate a defendant which can satisfy judgement. There is no more hiding behind their complicated legal structure to avoid compensating victims.
“Previously, abuse survivors found that it was almost impossible to successful sue church institutions.”
A spokesman for The Marist Brothers’ Province of Australia said it fully supported “any person bringing forward complaints about historic matters of abuse”.
Last month a group action was launched against St Patrick’s Catholic School at Sale after 31 victims reported abuse after a community awareness campaign was launched in April.
Former students of St Paul’s in Traralgon can contact Michael directly and confidentially by emailing will.waterside@outlook.com.
