A Marist brother has be found guilty of indecent assault
The actions of Brother Patrick Bignell, 69, had a considerable “adverse impact” on each of his three teenaged male victims a judge said as she sentenced him on Friday to eight months’ home detention and ordered him to pay $8000 each to two of the victims for emotional harm.
A summary given to the court said Bignell had been a teacher and guidance counsellor with a standing in the school and the wider community that meant students were inclined to trust him with their problems, so he was able to identify which students were vulnerable.
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