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A Catholic brother, a priest, a former priest and a lay teacher face a total of 128 child sex charges dating back to the 1970s at two schools in NSW's central west.
The brother, priest and teacher were arrested and charged, and police warn more arrests could follow. Former students of St Stanislaus College at Bathurst have alleged that boys were sexually abused during hypnotic late-night prayer and chanting sessions.
More victims speaking out
Brian Spillane, 65, from Narwee in Sydney's south-west, was charged in May with 33 offences and yesterday had a further 60 charges laid against him after eight more alleged victims came forward.
A 66-year-old Catholic brother, arrested this morning at Marsfield in Sydney's north-west, was charged with 28 child sexual offences relating to his time at the same school.
He has been bailed to appear at Bathurst Local Court on September 15. Spillane is due to appear in the same court on the same day to answer the new charges against him.
Also appearing on that day is a 65-year-old priest from Armidale who was this afternoon charged with four offences relating to the paedophile ring.
Former teacher arrested
A 63-year-old Queensland man, a former teacher at the Anglican All Saints College in Bathurst, was also arrested and charged today with three counts of indecent assault relating to the alleged abuse of a boy at that school in 1973.
He has been bailed to appear at Bathurst Local Court on November 17.
No prayers or chanting were thought to have been involved in the alleged attack on the student at All Saints, police say.
They say the only link between the incidents at the two schools was the time frame in which they occurred, but a combined police strike force would incorporate both investigations.
Detective Superintendent Michael Goodwin says allegations had been made by 13 former students from St Stanislaus, and one from All Saints.
"I can't rule out the fact that there'll be further investigations. There may be more arrests," Det Sup Goodwin says.
"Let's not forget that this whole investigation commenced because of one person having the courage to come forward.
"It's true, I dare say, that the courage of this one person has prompted the other people to come forward.
"I encourage anyone that may consider themselves a victim of sexual abuse at any school in Bathurst to make contact with the police."
School searched
St Stanislaus principal John Edwards has said the school was served with a search warrant on July 3 that stated the names of three former staff members.
Earlier today Det Supt Goodwin said both Spillane, and the 66-year-old brother arrested today were among those named.
It was not immediately clear whether the 65-year-old priest arrested this afternoon was the third person originally sought.
Mr Edwards today said he was aware of the new charges against Spillane.
The school was hoping for a thorough investigation by the police, he says.
"We just want to emphasise that we are encouraging the police to be very thorough in their investigation so that ... the needs of the community are best served," he says.
"We need to have any allegations of misconduct investigated, addressed and resolved." Source: SBS News
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