School principal accused of cowardice and dishonesty

Almost four weeks of public hearings into child sexual abuse by Anglican and Catholic clergy in the New South Wales city of Newcastle have ended, with a school principal accused of being a “coward” and a “liar” after claiming he could not remember visiting the home of a 13-year-old student who took his own life.

Br Christopher Wade, a former principal of a Marist Brothers high school in Newcastle, said he could not recall the circumstances surrounding the suicide of 13-year-old student Andrew Nash in 1974 after he was sexually abused by a teacher. The student’s mother Audrey, now 90, told the hearing that Br Christopher and convicted paedophile Br Romuald (Francis Cable) visited the family home on the night of Andrew’s death, with Br Romuald asking her if her son had left a note or said anything.

Mrs Nash’s barrister, Hilbert Chiu, accused Br Christopher of knowing at the time of the visit that Andrew’s death had been the result of Br Romuald’s interference and that he was relieved that Andrew had told nobody before he died. Br Christopher denied both allegations. Mr Chiu added: “And you’re pretending that you don’t remember that evening because you’re a coward and you’re a liar?” Br Christopher replied: “That’s not true.”

The Marist Brothers’ Australian Provincial Leader, Br Peter Carroll, made a statement to the hearing, which said in part: “As a religious order we have failed to protect the young people for whom we were founded and for whom many thousands of men have dedicated their lives.”