School to consider name change

Dr Heasley, in his latest letter to the Kavanagh College board, said there was also evidence Bishop Kavanagh knew about Fr Murray’s offending in 1969, but did not act until 1972, allowing him to continue offending in Dunedin.

Three members of the same class attending St Mary’s School in Mosgiel in 1969, where Fr Murray was parish priest at the time, have told ODT Insight all boys in the class were warned about Fr Murray in 1969.

One of the boys, who was also a victim of Fr Murray, said the warning was delivered by Fr Murray’s assistant priest at the time and Sister Mary de Lourdes, then the school principal.

‘‘It was a general blanket talk, saying . . . that if anything is said to you, or you hear anything, about Fr Murray, especially anything negative, to let them know,’’ the former pupil said.

He believed it was the kind of warning that would not have escaped Bishop Kavanagh’s attention.

‘‘Anything that’s done at the church, or anything like that, is dictated to by the Bishop.’’

Bishop Dooley, when the suggestion was put to him during last month’s extended interview, said he was not aware of the claim.

‘‘I’m not aware of that, but I’m interested to hear that.’’

Dr Heasley, in his letter to the board, said the fresh revelations about the scale of offending and Bishop Kavanagh’s role needed a response.

Dr Heasley, who was a pupil at St Paul’s High School and a head prefect in 1969, had previously called for a name change last year, after finding a 1968 staff photograph containing Fr Murray’s image still on display at Kavanagh College.

The picture was quickly removed, but the call for a name change was rejected by the college board.

In his latest letter to the board, Dr Heasley said it was now clear the offending photo contained the pic tures of three paedophiles — Fr Murray and Brs Glen and Henery — seated side by side.

In Pennsylvania, where at least 300 priests abused more than 1000 children over decades, the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg has named offenders and moved to strip the names of bishops who failed to act from church properties.

In Christchurch, Catholic Bishop Paul Martin has also said the church could consider naming clergy who abused children, even if they had not gone through the courts, if church investigations found they were guilty.

Dr Heasley said similar public accounting was needed in Dunedin, beginning by renaming Kavanagh College, to recognise the ‘‘serious trauma’’ inflicted upon victims.

‘‘Bishop Kavanagh bears the full responsibility for this and the destruction of lives that ensued.’’

Bishop Dooley and Mr O’Neill did not respond when asked again yesterday to comment on Dr Heasley’s views.