Former student sues elite Launceston school after alleged abuse

A FORMER student at the Launceston Church Grammar School who alleges he was sexually abused by other students during his time there is suing the school for breaching its duty of care.

Documents that have been filed with the Supreme Court in Hobart allege the abuse happened while he was attending the school and was at the boarding house, dating back to the 1960s.

According to the statement of claim, the man alleges he was sexually abused and raped by an older boarder during the night in the dormitories over a period of six to 12 months.

He alleges he was later sexually abused by other boarders on weekends on school premises on seven to 13 occasions, while he was restrained by the students.

He allegedly told a staff member he had been sexually abused and they “took no steps in response” to what they were told and “he continued to be abused”.

According to the claim, he was also pushed around and surrounded by five boarders in the showers and forced to masturbate while they watched.

It is claimed he was physically and emotionally abused by other students at the school, by “being punched, restrained, grabbed by the genitals, kicked in the genitals, spat on and threatened with sexual and physical violence”.

According to the document, as a consequence of the abuse he “suffered physical and psychiatric injuries consisting of major depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder”.

It is claimed the physical, sexual and emotional abuse were caused by breaches of duty of care and as a consequence he had suffered loss and damage.

It has been alleged the school breached its duty of care in eight ways including; by failing to initiate and maintain any or any adequate system to protect the man from physical, sexual and emotional abuse; failing to take steps or adequate steps in response to his complaint about abuse; and, failure to have any or any adequate system of supervision of children at the school.

The man is seeking damages, interests and costs.

In an email sent to parents with students at the school, headmaster Richard Ford said the school took all matters of alleged sexual abuse seriously.

“The school apologises . . . to any alumni who have been sexually abused while in the care of the school,” Mr Ford said.