Bernard McGrath

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bernard McGrath
Born
Bernard Kevin McGrath

(1947-05-22) 22 May 1947 (age 74)
NationalityNew Zealand
OccupationCatholic brother
Known forChild sexual abuse
Criminal statusIn prison
Criminal penalty
  • 1993: 3 years custody
  • 1997: 9 months custody
  • 2006: 5 years custody
  • 2018: 33 years custody
  • 2019: 29 years custody

Bernard Kevin McGrath (born 22 May 1947) is a convicted child sex abuser and former member of the Catholic religious order the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God. McGrath was born in Christchurch New Zealand, and joined the order in 1965. He is considered to be the most notorious offender in the most notorious religious order in Australia.[1] His victims include orphans, children with intellectual and physical disabilities and homeless children in Australia and New Zealand.[2][3]

McGrath has been convicted of child sexual abuse on five occasions in Australia and New Zealand and is currently being held in South Coast Correctional Centre, Nowra, New South Wales.[4]

Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God[]

The Catholic religious order St John of God came to Australia in 1947 and established a special school for boys at Kendall Grange, Morisset. They opened schools at Cheltenham and Greensborough in Victoria and a training farm for young adult men at Lilydale. A large boarding school was also opened at Marylands, Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1955.[5]

In 2002, the order admitted that 24 boys and men were abused in Victoria and they paid $3.6 million in compensation to the victims.[6]

The Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found that the order had the highest proportion of perpetrators in any institution in Australia; 40.4% of the order had child sexual abuse allegations made against them from 1950 to 2010.[6][7]

Early life and career[]

Bernard McGrath was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up with his parents, one brother and one sister. McGrath's father was a butcher by trade but had previously worked as a cleric and was determined his son would follow a life of service to the church. McGrath studied at Xavier College, Christchurch, and despite wanting to study veterinary science, six months after leaving school he joined the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God when he was 18 years old. In 1967, he spent six months as a postulate studying and working at Kendall Grange, Morisset, New South Wales.

In early 1968, McGrath took his vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and hospitality. He remained at Kendall Grange until 1969.[2]

In early 1969, McGrath moved to Burswood and became a scholastic, working in psychiatric wards. Despite a desire to become a nurse, he enrolled at a teacher's college at Oak Hill and was awarded a Diploma of Teaching. During this time, he reported that he was involved in a sexual relationship with Brother Berchmans Moynahan.

In 1972, McGrath was transferred to the order's school in Churinga, Victoria, and placed in charge of a classroom program. In 1973, he was transferred back to Kendall Grange, where he worked as a teacher for one year.

Maryland's School, Christchurch[]

In 1974, McGrath completed his training and was transferred to Marylands School, Christchurch for children with learning and behavioural difficulties. McGrath worked there as a dormitory master and teacher. He would later allege a culture of violence, fear, sexual abuse and concealment. The prior at the school was Brother Roger Moloney, who would also later be convicted of child sexual abuse at the school.[8][9]

McGrath later told police that Moloney had threatened McGrath's progress in the order unless he acceded to sexual demands made of him. Sexual contact occurred between McGrath and Moloney.

In mid-1977, the provincial of the order, Brother Brain O'Donnell, received written complaints about McGrath and Moloney offending against children. In September 1977, despite knowledge of this offending, McGrath was transferred to Australia and sent to Kendall Grange, another school for disadvantaged children. A month later, Moloney was transferred to Rome, where he worked for a year as a pharmacist in the Vatican.

Kendall Grange[]

McGrath became headmaster of Kendall Grange in 1981. The school was a boarding school for boys aged between 8 and 15 who suffered from behavioural, emotional or intellectual problems. The brothers of the order ran the school with the assistance of various lay staff. Around 300 boys lived at the school at any time, housed in dormitories. Between four and ten brothers resided at Kendall Grange at any one time and a brother was allocated to a dormitory or section. He was directly responsible for the care and welfare of the boys under his supervision. McGrath was in charge of red section and assumed the role of prior principal. He held this role between 1980 and 1986, which was the period that saw the majority of his offending. McGrath sexually abused scores of children at Kendall Grange, including Jason Van Dyke.[citation needed]

In 1986, McGrath left Kendall Grange to establish the Hebron Trust, a residential program in Christchurch for troubled teenagers and young adults. In his role at Hebron Trust, he had direct contact with the District Police Commander's Office and Youth Aid. At Hebron, McGrath again had access to vulnerable children.

In 1991, two social workers complained to the order's leadership that McGrath was making sexual advances towards four children in their care. When they received no response, they reported their suspicions to Christchurch police.

In 1992, Jason Van Dyke's mother, Janice, personally reported her son's sexual abuse by McGrath to Brother Joseph Smith. Smith admitted he had received another complaint about McGrath six months earlier but assured Janice "Don't worry, we are dealing with it."[citation needed]

Father Brian Lucas[]

In 1992, Brother Joseph Smith brought McGrath to St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where they had a meeting with Father Brian Lucas. At this time, Lucas was leading the Australian Catholic church's response to the emerging scandal of child sexual abuse by priests.

As a civil lawyer and capable priest, Lucas established the church's Special Issues Resources Group responsible for dealing with allegations of child sexual abuse against clergy. Lucas gave evidence to the royal commission that his role was to help the bishop or major superior "manage the person making the complaint, see that their needs were met and get the offender out of the business".[10]

Over the course of his career, Lucas met and interviewed over 30 abusive priests and religious, including Father Denis McAlinden, Father John Farrell, Father John Nestor and McGrath. Lucas took no notes of these meetings, despite the priests confessing to sexually abusing children in their care. He reported none of the offending to the police.[11][12]

During the meeting at St Mary's Cathedral, McGrath confessed to Lucas that he had sexually abused children and there would be many more complaints. Despite this admission, neither Lucas or Smith reported McGrath to police. In 2019, Lucas acknowledged the meeting took place but said he was not obliged to report McGrath to the police. Lucas denied his failure to report the child sexual abuse to the police was a cover-up.[2]

Jemez Springs[]

Shortly after the Lucas meeting, Brother Joseph Smith accompanied McGrath to Jemez Springs, a treatment centre run by the Catholic order the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete for sexually abusive clergy and religious in New Mexico, United States. At least one other Australian Catholic priest was sent to Jemez Springs, the Ballarat offender Father Gerald Ridsdale.

During 1993–94, McGrath took part in the Jamaica program, a six month residential treatment for religious personnel who had committed sexual offences against children. During this course, McGrath was required to identify all the children he had sexually abused. None of this information was ever reported to police. McGrath was treated by Sarah Brennan, who stated McGrath surpassed all other clients in the program.[citation needed]

After leaving the program, McGrath moved to Chicago and stayed with other members of his order. During this time, McGrath was notified by Smith that police wanted to question him over multiple allegations of child sexual abuse. Smith offered McGrath the chance to remain in the United States, but in late 1993 he returned to New Zealand to be interviewed about his alleged abuse of two boys at Marylands and four altar boys associated with the life skills course at Hebron Trust.

Convictions and imprisonment[]

On 23 December 1993, McGrath pled guilty and was sentenced in the High Court of New Zealand to three years imprisonment. While serving this sentence, he admitted offences upon three more students from Marylands. He also participated in the Kia Marama Sexual Offenders Program in Rolleston Prison.

In 1995, he was granted parole and started his own cleaning business. He also commenced a psychology program through North Carolina University.

During 1995, Jason Van Dyke made a statement to Chatswood police alleging that McGrath had sexually abused him at Kendall Grange between 1982 and 1983. McGrath was extradited to Australia and on 30 January 1997 pleaded guilty to all six charges relating to Van Dyke. McGrath was sentenced to nine months imprisonment. In October 1997, McGrath was released from jail and returned to New Zealand and was discharged from the St John of God order.

Following publicity around McGrath's conviction, more allegations emerged and in 2003 and McGrath was again arrested by Christchurch police. He agreed to a six-hour interview with Detective Sean Buckley. The arrest resulted in a number of charges and an indictment containing 54 counts of sexual abuse upon multiple complainants.

During that time, five other members of the order, Brother Roger Moloney, Brother Raymond Garchow, Brother William Lebler and Brother Rodger Mount all faced child sexual abuse allegations.[13][14]

In 2006, McGrath was found guilty on 21 charges of child sexual abuse against nine victims aged between 7 – 15 years old. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment.[15] In 2008, as McGrath was released on parole, Brother Roger Moloney was sentenced to two years and nine months on seven counts of sexual abuse of children at Marylands.[16]

Following the devastating Christchurch earthquake, McGrath moved to Ashburton and took on the role of care-taker for a 20 acre farm. He then set up a tea business and travelled to Sri Lanka.

In late 2010, Strike Force Lozano was established by NSW Police to investigate more allegations of child sex abuse at Kendall Grange. Detective Darren Webster led the investigation and by the end of 2011, had a significant brief on McGrath and Brother John Clegg. Other brothers who allegedly committed other offences at the school were deceased or deemed unfit to be tried. In 2012, McGrath was charged again in relation to the new Kendall Grange allegations.

In 2012, Interpol put out an extradition request for McGrath, who travelled from Sri Lanka to Christchurch. He appealed his extradition to Australia and continued to fight in the courts for two years. The New Zealand High Court finally dismissed the appeal and on 23 December 2014 he was extradited to Australia.[17]

As McGrath arrived in Australia, Brother Rodger Mount was deported from Papua New Guinea. He was arrested by Australian police on arrival, facing charges from four victims.[18][19]

On 16 May 2017, McGrath's fourth trial began in the District Court of New South Wales. He was arraigned before an expanded jury of 15 on an indictment containing 129 counts, principally of a sexual nature against 15 victims. Due to the high number of complainants, the trial was split into two.

On 16 February 2018, McGrath was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment for 64 offences against 12 boys at Kendall Grange.[20] The second trial began in 2019 and he was sentenced to a further 29 years imprisonment for offences against 15 boys at Kendall Grange.[4][21]

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Sarah Huggett said that she had "no doubt at all that systemic abuse of children at Kendall Grange was taking place during the period of McGrath's offending".[22] Hugget also said: "I found the offender to be a most unpersuasive, manipulative and unconvincing witness" and "not a witness of truth". She added: "The undeniable fact remains that this offender knowingly engaged in a deliberate course of prolonged and serious sexual abuse. He completely disregarded and exploited the powerlessness and vulnerability of his victims for his own motivations. He appreciated the wrongfulness of his conduct and on many occasions used techniques to secure a victim's silence. The offender as an educated adult must have appreciated the harm at least his more serious offences were causing. Yet he acted with complete disregard for those inevitable consequences...it must be remembered that he committed so many offences upon 12 victims over many years. He was a predator and there was no sign he was stopping as he moved from one victim to the next."

Cover-up[]

The cover-up of Bernard McGrath's crimes began more than 20 years before he was finally arrested. In 1977, reports of McGrath's abuse of children reached Brother Brian O'Donnell, the head of the order in Sydney. At least one other brother, a teacher and several members of staff reported their concerns to O'Donnell. Following a short internal investigation and despite serious allegations of child sexual abuse, O'Donnell transferred McGrath to Kendall Grange in New South Wales. Like Marylands, Kendall Grange was a school for disadvantaged boys. In 1980, McGrath became headmaster of the school and buy his own admissions, his offending increased significantly.[23]

When more allegations emerged in the early 1990s, the order's provincial, Brother Joseph Smith, followed Catholic Church protocol and took McGrath to meet Father Brian Lucas, a priest and civil lawyer. Lucas was head of the church's Special Issues Resource Group tasked with responding to the emerging scandal of child sex abuse by priests and brothers.[24]

Lucas, Smith and McGrath met at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney and McGrath confessed to Lucas that he was an abuser. Following the meeting, Smith accompanied McGrath to the United States for treatment. Despite McGrath's confession, neither Lucas or Smith reported him to the police. Instead, McGrath was moved out of Australia in an attempt to avoid scandal.[2][25]

McGrath's trials[]

Trials & Convictions
Location Trial No. Year Conviction Sentence Ref.
High Court of New Zealand, Christchurch 1 23 December 1993 Guilty – 10 offences of child sexual abuse against 6 boys at Marylands and Hebron Trust, Christchurch. 3 years imprisonment [26]
District Court of NSW, Australia 2 1997 Guilty – 6 offences of child sexual abuse against 6 boys at Kendall Grange, Morisset. 9 months imprisonment [27]
High Court of New Zealand, Christchurch 3 2006 Guilty – 21 offences of child sexual abuse against 9 boys at Marylands, Christchurch 5 years imprisonment [8]
District Court of NSW, Australia 4 2018 Guilty – 64 offences of child sexual abuse against 12 boys (1978–1985) at Kendall Grange, Morisset. 33 years imprisonment [4]
District Court of NSW, Australia 5 2019 Guilty – 51 offences of child sexual abuse against 15 boys at Kendall Grange, Morisset. 27 years imprisonment [2]

Government inquiries[]

Victorian parliamentary inquiry[]

On 29 April 2013, Brother Timothy Graham, the provincial of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Oceania province, gave evidence before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry Into The Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Organisations. He was asked about Brother Brian O'Donnell, the provincial of the order in 1977. O'Donnell was quoted as saying that "... no allegations of sexual misconduct involving brothers ... was ever documented and would be held in archives. This practice was followed in order to deal with the situation in its actual context without compromising the good name of the person in the future. By that I am referring to the brother against whom the allegation had been made."[citation needed] O'Donnell was also quoted as saying "... I made mention in my earlier statement to police that the attitude within the order was one of reacting to a religious failing to keep his vow of chastity. We were dealing with a sin rather than a crime. The attitude was that a sinner can repent and be forgiven and give up sinning."[citation needed]

O'Donnell's police statement makes reference to his decision to move McGrath and Moloney in 1977: "... as a result of the number of allegations received in and around this time that I as provincial saw the need for a clean-out at Marylands, Christchurch. It has also been suggested that McGrath and Moloney were moved on because of the sexual allegations and that I put Brother Timothy (Boxall) in as Prior to bring about necessary changes. This is in a sense correct."[citation needed]

Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Australia)[]

The commission were unable to conduct a public hearing into the order because of the risk of prejudicing the trials of Bernard McGrath and Brother John Clegg. Clegg was found guilty in 2015 of multiple offences against boys at Kendall Grange.

The commission held private hearings from survivors and families who suffered as a result of the order.

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (New Zealand)[]

As part of the investigation into abuse in the care of the Catholic Church, the New Zealand inquiry will investigate the nature and extent of the abuse that occurred at Marylands School, Christchurch.[28][29]

Police[]

In December 2020, the detectives of Strike Force Lozano were awarded for their work on the McGrath case. Detective Darren Webster and Detective Scott Selkirk were identified as conducting the best investigations in New South Wales.[30]

Revelation television documentary series[]

In 2019, journalist Sarah Ferguson and producer Nial Fulton gained access to the Sydney District Court to film McGrath's fifth trial as part of the ABC television series Revelation.[31] They also negotiated access to interview McGrath in his maximum security prison in New South Wales. During this interview, McGrath admitted that the order had covered up his abusing for decades and moved him to prevent scandal and police investigation. He said he understood that both he and Roger Moloney were moved from Christchurch in 1977 because of their sexual offending against children.

McGrath told Ferguson he had confessed his sexual abuse of children to Father Brian Lucas and Brother Joseph Smith in 1992 but neither man reported it to the police. McGrath explained how Smith personally delivered him to a treatment centre in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, despite Smith being aware of at least four allegations of child sexual abuse against McGrath.

McGrath also alleged he had been sexually abused by two other brothers in the order and described a toxic culture of sexual abuse, concealment and fear.

Offenders from the St John of God order[]

In addition to McGrath, other members of the St John of God order have been convicted of child sexual abuse. They include:

St John of God Paedophiles
Name Religious Name Location of Offences Conviction Sentence Status Ref.
Brother Roger William Moloney Marylands Guilty: 7 offences against 5 children 2 Years, 9 months Imprisonment Deceased [16]
Brother John Marshall Clegg Kendall Grange, New South Wales Guilty: 11 offences against 2 children 7 years imprisonment Prison – 2017 – 2022 [32]
Brother Roger Melville Mount Gabriel Churinga, Victoria Guilty: 13 offences against 2 children 7 years, 10 months Prison [33]
Brother Daniel Slattery Daniel Kendall Grange, New South Wales Guilty: 12 offences against 3 boys Awaiting sentencing Custody [30]
Brother William John Lebler Thaddeus Maryland's, Christchurch, New Zealand Deemed unfit to stand trial St John of God substantiated Lebler's offending Deceased [14][34]
Brother Raymond John Garchow Richard Maryland's, Christchurch, New Zealand 8 offences against children, St John of God substantiated Garchow's offending Deemed unfit to stand trial Deceased, 2011 [35][36]
Brother John Joseph Donnellan Bede Kendall Grange 5 offences, St John of God substantiated Donnellan's offending Died before charges were laid Deceased [37][38]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (6 February 2017). "Morisset home at centre of abuse crisis". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "How was this suspected paedophile allowed to run a school?". www.abc.net.au. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (16 February 2018). "St John of God's Bernard McGrath to be sentenced". Southern Highland News. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c McCarthy, Joanne (3 December 2019). "Hunter 'house of evil' predator jailed until 2053 for crimes against boys". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. ^ "About Us | The Hospitaller Order of St John of God Oceania Province". Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Who are the Brothers of St John of God?". www.abc.net.au. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Nearly 2,000 Catholic Church figures implicated in child sex abuse report". www.abc.net.au. 5 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Spreading the rot of child sexual abuse". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. ^ "St John of God Brothers (SJOG)". rapevictimsofthecatholicchurch. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Father Brian Lucas admits neglect in case of Father John Joseph Farrell". 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021 – via www.abc.net.au.
  11. ^ Callinan, Rory (2 April 2016). "Priest alleged to have not reported abuser was on board of church's insurance company". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ RYAN, STEPHEN (5 May 2014). "Paedophile victim tells of 'insensitive' Lucas interview". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Priest and brother to be extradited". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Church to fight extradition". The Age. 15 February 2005. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ a b "Marylands sex offender jailed". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  18. ^ "THE BROTHERS HOSPITALLERS OF ST JOHN OF GOD (O.H.)". 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  19. ^ "How the church authorities tried to protect a child-abuser, Brother Rodger Moloney". brokenrites.org.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  20. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (17 February 2018). "Justice at long last: Bernard McGrath jailed for 33 years". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Former Catholic brother jailed for 33 years for abusing boys in his care". Stuff. 19 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  22. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (21 February 2018). "New Zealand PM urged to expand royal commission over St John of God child-sex abuse". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Kendall Grange Boy's Home, Morrisset Park (NSW)". Moody Law. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. ^ Foster, Chrissie (1 April 2020). ""Revelation" reveals cover-up and denial by pedophile priests". www.eternitynews.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  25. ^ Coyne, Brian. "Revelation: if that doesn't send morale rocketing further down nothing will – Catholica Forum". Catholica.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  26. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (16 February 2018). "St John of God's Bernard McGrath to be sentenced". The Courier. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  27. ^ "PressReader.com – Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  28. ^ "Document and video library | Abuse in Care – Royal Commission of Inquiry". www.abuseincare.org.nz. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Marylands School | Abuse in Care – Royal Commission of Inquiry". www.abuseincare.org.nz. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Dailytelegraph.com.au | Subscribe to The Daily Telegraph for exclusive stories". Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  31. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: The ABC's Sarah Ferguson reveals what it's really like to interview convicted paedophiles". Now To Love. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  32. ^ McCarthy, Joanne (22 June 2017). "St John of God Brother loses appeal". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  33. ^ Callinan, Rory (16 October 2014). "Priest at centre of paedophile allegations arrives back in Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  34. ^ Hoh, Rory Callinan, Amanda (13 February 2013). "Brother accused of child abuse left unsupervised". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  35. ^ "Catholic Brother avoids sex abuse trial". RNZ. 25 July 2008. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  36. ^ Rudd, Allison (26 March 2011). "No closure in death of priest". Otago Daily Times Online News. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  37. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. ^ Dennehy, Kate (25 July 2009). "$30,000 after abuse by Catholic brother". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
Retrieved from ""