Our client, AFS grew up in regional NSW. He attended the local primary school, helped on the farm, played with the kids on the street and rode his horse on the weekends. He lived an idyllic, innocent, and remote childhood. His family were catholic, and he attended church with them.
In 1978 , AFS was 12 and sent to boarding school in Goulburn NSW. There was a great legacy in the family in attending this school and he was excited about the opportunities. When he was in year 7, AFS was struggling with homesickness and under the guise of comfort, Brother Standen took advantage of him and sexually abused him. The abuse continued for most of year 7 and impacted AFS’s ability to concentrate. His grades depreciated and he ended up leaving school in year 10.
Proceedings were issued against the Trustees of the Christian Brothers in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The parties failed to settle his case at mediation and a hearing date was given. Three months before the hearing, the case settled and AFS received a written apology from the Trustees of the Christian Brothers.
