NEW claims that a paedophile ring was active at St Stanislaus’ College during the 1970s and 1980s have prompted a former student to tell his story of abuse.
Thirteen former Stannies’ students have told police they were abused at the college.
A 65-year-old former priest is already facing 33 charges, and police are continuing their investigation.
Another former student, who asked only to be known as ‘John’, told AAP he was sexually abused three times in April 1971 by a priest who left St Stanislaus’ a few years later.
“I still remember it,” John said. “I carry that stench on my back ever since the day it happened.
“I was a day boy and I was not the only victim back then.”
In the mid-1990s, he contacted the Vincentian order of priests, which run the school and operate separately from the Bathurst Catholic diocese.
He eventually settled out of court for just over $40,000.
He said criminal proceedings against the priest never went past the committal hearing due to lack of evidence.
Father Ian McGinnity, chairman of the National Council of Priests of Australia, said great care was taken at boarding schools, but sex abuse remained in all parts of society.
“It still doesn’t take away the unfortunate reality of human nature,” Fr McGinnity told AAP. “There are people who sometimes have sicknesses in psycho-sexual arenas and that happens whether they’re priests or lay people.”
Police have released scant information in relation to their investigation but want other victims of alleged abuse to contact them.
Email a friend