Former St Bede’s College priest Rowan Donoghue has been sentenced to seven years and eight months in prison after admitting sexually abusing four boys at the Christchurch boarding school between 1996 and 2000.
Victims described years of trauma, addiction, shame and emotional damage caused by the abuse, with one saying the offending became “our own little life sentence”. The court heard Donoghue exploited his authority as a trusted priest and caregiver to groom vulnerable students who were isolated from their families.
Judge Jane Farish said the offending involved major breaches of trust, planning and abuse of power, telling Donoghue the shame rested solely with him. Crown prosecutors argued his standing within the Catholic church enabled the abuse, while police praised the victims’ courage in coming forward. The sentencing comes amid wider scrutiny of historic abuse allegations linked to St Bede’s College and the Society of Mary.
Police respond to sentencing – statement of Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons
Police acknowledge the sentence handed down to Rowan Maxwell Donoghue today in Christchurch District Court.
He was sentenced to seven years and eight months imprisonment, after pleading guilty in relation to a number of historical offences against former students at St Bede’s College in Christchurch.
We are pleased to see justice done for his victims who had the bravery to come forward and tell their stories.
Our complainants have taken another step in paving the way for others to come forward, to have a voice and to not be silenced or shamed.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the investigation team, the Crown who prosecuted the case, and the specialist sexual assault agencies who supported the victims through this process.
We know it can be difficult and at times distressing to talk about these matters, but we would like to reassure any victims of offending that we take them seriously.
We hope this case shows anyone else who has been the victim of a sexual assault that there is hope, and there is support available to you.
Anyone who would like to make a complaint to Police with any information or to report similar offending, please contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.
Do taxpayers realise that their ACC contributions are being used to pay compensation to victims of historical sex abuse? ACC has lost $8.7 billion over the last two financial years as a result of a High Court decision that deemed historical sex abuse must be compensated by workers’ ACC contributions.
Abuse victims would have the right to sue their abuser in court if ACC didn’t exist. Instead workers get hit twice by not only having their ACC contributions used to pay out compensation to the victim but also funding the prison sentence through their income taxes handed out to the abuser.
Currently ACC syphons off $1,400 from a worker earning $80,000 a year regardless of accident risk. A worker earning $120,000 a year is forced to hand over $2,100 . Vehicle owners and motor bike owners pay additional sums to ACC.
By repealing the ACC legislation workers can decide for themselves whether they wish to seek personal accident insurance or put the money saved to better use. Time to join the rest of the world by allowing accident victims and abuse survivors the right to sue in court for compensation.
As an added bonus the government could then access the ACC’s $50 billion investment portfolio to either reduce debt or fund social services.
Time the Catholic church was made to stump up. I’ll wager they are treated as a charity for tax purposes?
Suffice to say NEVER let a cult anywhere near your kids.