Marist Brothers is an international Religious Institute of the Catholic Church founded in 1817. They were established for the education and ‘Christian formation’ of young people. Sadly, the Marist Brothers were a central focus of the Royal Commission into institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Marist Brothers have a dark history of concealing child sexual abuse, harbouring some of the worst offenders that were seen in Australia. A large portion were paedophiles who were placed in positions of authority in schools, churches and communities, allowing them to utilise their positions to take advantage of vulnerable children and families.
There are countless Marist Brothers who have been convicted of child sexual abuse and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into child sexual abuse revealed the lengths that the Marist Brothers went to protect themselves and other Brothers and Priests within relevant Dioceses.
If you or someone that you know have been impacted by the Marist Brothers and would like to discuss your legal options in a supportive and comfortable environment, then please contact Stacks Goudkamp. If you settled your civil case against the Marist Brothers prior to the Royal Commission or through Towards Healing and you would like to look at your options about re-opening your case, the please do not hesitate to contact us.
Institutions founded by the Marist Brothers
- Aquinas College, Adelaide.
- Assumption College, Kilmore Victoria.
- Bunbury Catholic College, Bunbury Western Australia.
- Marist College Ashgrove, Queensland.
- Marist College Canberra, Pearce ACT.
- Marist College Bendigo, Victoria.
- Marist College Eastwood, NSW.
- Marist College Kogarah, NSW.
- Champagnat Catholic College, Pagewood NSW.
- Marist College Penshurst, Mortdale NSW.
- Marist College Rosalie, Piddington NSW.
- Marist Regional College, Burnie Tasmania.
- Marist-Sion College, Warragul Victoria.
- Mt Carmel High School, Varroville NSW.
- Mt Maria College, Petrie QLD.
- Newman College, Floreat Western Australia.
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic High School, Alice Springs NT.
- Paramatta Marist High School, Westmead NSW.
- Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes NSW.
- Sacred Heart College, Somerton Park SA.
- Samaritan Catholic College, Preston Victoria.
- St Augustine’s College, Cairns QLD.
- St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown NSW.
- St Joseph’s College, East Brunswick Victoria.
- St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill NSW.
- St Mary’s Catholic College, Casino QLD.
- St Patrick’s Marist College, Dundas NSW.
- Trinity Catholic College, Auburn Regents Park, NSW.
- Trinity Catholic College, Beenleigh QLD.
- Trinity Catholic College, Lismore NSW.
Abuser spotlight
Brother John Kostka Chute
Brother John Koskta Chute (“Brother Kostka”) was littered across schools in NSW, QLD and the ACT where he had unfettered access to children. He has been convicted of sexually abusing numerous children and remains to be one of the worst offenders within the Marist Brothers. Between 1952 and 1993, Brother Kostka was placed in a number of Schools in NSW, the ACT and Queensland including Marist College Canberra and Marist Brothers Penshurst.
Brother Ross Murrin
Brother Ross Murrin has been convicted of child sex crimes that he committed during his teaching career in Australian Catholic Schools. He worked in eleven Catholic Schools in NSW and Queensland, including the prestigious St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill and Aquinas College, Cairns, abusing countless children. He ingratiated himself into communities where he was able to abuse his position of power.
Brother Francis William Cable, also known as Brother Romuald
Brother Romuald has been convicted of child sex offences. His first appointment as a Brother was as one of the staff of a Marist-operated boys’ Orphanage, St Vincent’s Boys Home at Westmead in Western Sydney. Brother Romuald moved to Schools in Pagewood, Hamilton and Maitland where he committed hideous crimes against vulnerable children,
Brother John Aloysius Littler, also known as Brother Nestor
Brother Nestor was a prolific child abuser who had an enormous impact on individuals and families. He sexually assaulted children at Marist operated orphanage, St Vincent’s boys’ home in Westmead. Brother Nestor worked to abuse the prestigious Sydney Boarding School, St Joseph’s, Hunters Hill as a boarding master and became Principal at Maitland Marist Brothers.
Brother Gregory Sutton
Brother Sutton began his career at a Marist Brother School North Queensland in 1973. He continued to teach exclusively for the Marist Brothers in Queensland, the ACT and New South Wales until April 1987 when he was removed from teaching by the then, Provincial, Brother Dwyer. Brother Sutton was arrested in Missouri in the United States with respect to 24 alleged sexual offences against seven of his former students in Australia. In August of 1996, Brother Sutton pleaded guilty to a total of 67 child sex offences in relation to 15 students in schools in NSW.
Brother Dominic O’Sullivan
Brother Dominic has been convicted of numerous child sex offences against former students of Marist Hamilton College and St Mary’s High School at Casino. The Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse hearing in Newcastle in 2016 heard from a number of former senior Marist Brothers who confirmed knowledge of complaints against Brother Dominic, who was moved to a new area after concerns were raised.
HOW CAN STACKS GOUDKAMP HELP
If you or anyone you know has suffered institutional abuse claim for compensation can provide you with the financial care and support needed to move forward.
Stacks Goudkamp’s specialist institutional abuse team have the expert knowledge and expertise needed to obtain outstanding results in all types of abuse claims.
We will act for you on a no win, no fee basis. We will listen to you and understand how your injuries have affected your quality of life, daily activities, work and all aspects of your life. We are here to help and always offer our legal services with compassion and respect.
Written by Alessandra Pettit
Alessandra Pettit (Ali) is a specialist in historical institutional abuse law and practices exclusively in this area. She has acted for survivors from all walks of life and continues to get outstanding results for her clients. She is compassionate, thorough, professional and kind, always ensuring that her clients feel supported and confident throughout the legal process.
If you or a loved one are a survivor of institutional abuse, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information and to arrange a free, no-obligation conference with Ali, please call Stacks Goudkamp on 1800 251 800, or alternatively make an online enquiry
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