Father John Byrne

Father John Byrne was born in 1912 in Gunnedah, north-eastern New South Wales and died in 1974, aged 62. He completed his school studies with the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) and was latter himself ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1947. As a teacher, he taught at the following Jesuit schools in Victoria and New South Wales:

  • Xavier College, Melbourne, until 1949;

  • St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1950-1961;

  • St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney, 1962-1966; and

  • Xavier Preparatory School - Burke Hall, Melbourne, 1967-1972.

At Burke Hall, Father Byrne was prefect of studies and school discipline. It is known that Father Byrne while at the preparatory school would take a boy to his private quarters to be punished. In a submission to the Victorian Parliament Family and Community Development Committee “INQUIRY INTO THE HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE BY RELIGIOUS AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS” in 2012, it was revealed that It was not until a young boy was apparently transported away from Burke Hall in an ambulance after allegedly being bashed by Father Byrne that the Jesuit hierarchy did anything to stop Father Byrne’s behaviour. In 1973, Father Byrne was subsequently removed and prevented from having any further contact from boys and was transferred to an office position. However, the inquiry did criticise the Jesuits over its handling of Father Byrne on the following facts:

  • It did not undertake an investigation to determine the nature and extent of any harm he may have inflicted on young boys at Burke Hall when under his care; and

  • His colleagues or superiors did not notify or inform the police of any suspected crime/s in relation to his behaviour/actions.

The Inquiry also revealed that a number of boys who attended Burke Hall in the 1970s had committed suicide in later years.

Moody Law has in the past represented a client who was sexually and physically abused by a member of the Jesuits.

We invite former victims, students, teachers, and parents to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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