Briefs

Extra for victims

The Christian Brothers have paid an extra $14 million to victims of abuse after a review of about 200 settlements, a royal commission has heard. The order’s Oceania province conducted the review following a hearing into the response by Western Australian brothers to abuse in orphanages and schools. Province leader Brother Peter Clinch told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse yesterday the order historically thought it was going to be ‘‘taken to the cleaners’’ and was in denial about abuse cases.

Last $11 buys $1m

Two Australian pensioners used their last A$11 (NZ$11.80) in change to buy what became a winning Lotto ticket. The self-described battlers – a couple from Western Australia in their 60s – purchased the ticket only after the wife dreamt she had won Lotto. Just days later the Port Kennedy woman found she had scooped the A$1 million Division One prize.

Bodies wash up

The bodies of at least 74 migrants have been found washed up on the shore in western Libya after the engine of their inflatable boat was stolen, coastguard and aid officials said yesterday. Red Crescent spokesman Mohamed al-misrati said the corpses had been recovered on Tuesday, near the city of Zawiya. They were all adults, mostly from sub-saharan African countries.

Mountain of evidence

The foster brother of slain Brisbane schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer is still going through a mountain of evidence against him, a court has heard. During a mention for Trent Thorburn at Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday, Ashley Ulyatt, said a brief of evidence provided by prosecution included 700 witness statements and 65 hours of recording. Thorburn, 19, is facing charges of incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice in relation to the alleged murder of 12-year-old Tiahleigh in 2015. His father, Richard Thorburn, has been charged with killing Tiahleigh and dumping her body. The matter was adjourned until April 5.