*Court hears boys describe abuse by Catholic priest*

By Julian Drape

October 10, 2007 07:57pm
Article from: AAP

AUSTRALIA - A CATHOLIC priest sexually abused a number of teenagers at a
boys' home in southern Sydney in the late 1980s, a court has been told.

Father Paul Evans was dorm master at Boys' Town Catholic boarding school
at Engadine at the time of the alleged incidents.

During committal proceedings in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court
today, Magistrate Robyn Denes was told Mr Evans molested the boys in the
dormitory and during weekend fishing and camping trips.

Mr Evans has been charged with 23 child sex offences.

The court was told audio tapes of three interviews with the alleged
victims, who cannot be named, conducted in 2004 by private investigator
Michael Eccleston, who was employed by the Catholic church.

In one, a former boarder said Mr Evans "used to get butter between my
legs and lie on me... then he'd put his penis there between my legs".

The man, who was 13 when the alleged incidents started, said Mr Evans
also fondled him, masturbated him and performed oral sex on him.

During the interview, Mr Eccleston asked the alleged victim if he signed
off a birthday card to Mr Evans at the time with "your bum chum".

"I possible could have, I was a young teenager," the man replied.

Another former Boys' Town boarder told Mr Eccleston that Evans fondled
him "regularly".

"I just wish it never happened," he said, adding that he had struggled
to develop meaningful relationships ever since.

In cross-examining Mr Eccleston, Mr Evans' barrister Bernard Niven asked
the private investigator if he warned the alleged victims the interviews
could be used as evidence in a criminal trial "down the track".

He said any suggestions or conclusions which Mr Eccleston put to the men
could have had a "disastrous" effect on the form of their evidence.

Mr Niven also grilled the police officer in charge of the criminal
investigation over whether she warned the alleged victims not to discuss
the incidents among themselves to ensure there was no perception they'd
"put their heads together".

"I told them not to discuss it," Detective Senior Constable Megan Marks
replied.

"I can only advise them."

The court was told Mr Evans had faced similar charges in 1988, which
were dismissed.

Throughout today's hearing Mr Evans sat quietly in court taking notes.

The committal hearing continues.

Court hears boys describe abuse by Catholic priest

By Julian Drape

October 10, 2007 07:57pm
Article from: AAP

AUSTRALIA - A CATHOLIC priest sexually abused a number of teenagers at
a boys' home in southern Sydney in the late 1980s, a court has been
told.

Father Paul Evans was dorm master at Boys' Town Catholic boarding
school at Engadine at the time of the alleged incidents.

During committal proceedings in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court
today, Magistrate Robyn Denes was told Mr Evans molested the boys in
the dormitory and during weekend fishing and camping trips.

Mr Evans has been charged with 23 child sex offences.

The court was told audio tapes of three interviews with the alleged
victims, who cannot be named, conducted in 2004 by private
investigator Michael Eccleston, who was employed by the Catholic
church.

In one, a former boarder said Mr Evans "used to get butter between my
legs and lie on me... then he'd put his penis there between my legs".

The man, who was 13 when the alleged incidents started, said Mr Evans
also fondled him, masturbated him and performed oral sex on him.

During the interview, Mr Eccleston asked the alleged victim if he
signed off a birthday card to Mr Evans at the time with "your bum
chum".

"I possible could have, I was a young teenager," the man replied.

Another former Boys' Town boarder told Mr Eccleston that Evans fondled
him "regularly".

"I just wish it never happened," he said, adding that he had struggled
to develop meaningful relationships ever since.

In cross-examining Mr Eccleston, Mr Evans' barrister Bernard Niven
asked the private investigator if he warned the alleged victims the
interviews could be used as evidence in a criminal trial "down the
track".

He said any suggestions or conclusions which Mr Eccleston put to the
men could have had a "disastrous" effect on the form of their
evidence.

Mr Niven also grilled the police officer in charge of the criminal
investigation over whether she warned the alleged victims not to
discuss the incidents among themselves to ensure there was no
perception they'd "put their heads together".

"I told them not to discuss it," Detective Senior Constable Megan
Marks replied.

"I can only advise them."

The court was told Mr Evans had faced similar charges in 1988, which
were dismissed.

Throughout today's hearing Mr Evans sat quietly in court taking notes.

The committal hearing continues.