Historical Child Abuse at St Virgil’s College, Hobart
Former students of St Virgil’s College in Hobart, which was run by the Christian Brothers until around the late 1980s, have come forward with allegations of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Most relate to the 1970s and 1980s, although some date back to the 1950s.
This page summarises court proceedings, Royal Commission material, and published media reports. It does not make findings against St Virgil’s College or its current operators. Unless a court has found otherwise, the matters described remain allegations. The page is intended to help former students understand their options.
Recent court proceedings
The “Callum” case
A former student known by the pseudonym “Callum”, who attended St Virgil’s from 1977 to 1981, brought civil proceedings against the Christian Brothers in the Supreme Court of Tasmania. He alleged:
- sexual abuse by volunteer sports coach Stephen Randell, including during a 1979 school camp at Coningham Beach and on a separate occasion on Callum’s 12th birthday
- physical abuse by lay teacher Tom Burke and by Christian Brothers Doolan, Edmunds, and Parton, including severe corporal punishment and the use of punishment rooms.
The case went to trial in March 2025. After Callum had given evidence, the Christian Brothers made an offer to settle, which he accepted. The amount was not disclosed, and because the case settled, the court made no findings on the allegations.
Planned class action
In July 2025 it was reported that a class action was being prepared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania over alleged serious physical abuse of students at St Virgil’s in the 1970s and 1980s, including harsh corporal punishment. If you are considering joining a group action, or would prefer to pursue an individual claim, we can advise you on which approach suits your circumstances.
What the Royal Commission found
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse published data in 2016 showing that 853 people had made a claim or substantiated complaint of child sexual abuse involving the Christian Brothers, and that 281 individual Brothers were the subject of one or more claims or complaints. Around 45% of the abuse reported occurred in Victoria or Tasmania, and about 75% of claimants were under 13 at the time.
Across its case studies, the Commission also examined how religious orders, including the Christian Brothers, responded to allegations, including instances where Brothers were moved to other schools rather than reported to police.
Individuals named in reports
- Brother Patrick Timothy Farrell taught at St Virgil’s in the 1950s and was in charge of the junior dormitory, where former students have alleged assaults took place. (ABC News, 3 October 2014)
- Brother Maurice (Maurie) Howard, a former teacher at St Virgil’s, has been reported by survivor advocacy group Broken Rites as the subject of civil claims. (Broken Rites Australia)
A culture of fear
Former students have described a culture of fear at the school, with severe corporal punishment administered in a dedicated room students called the “crying room”. Survivors have also described abuse going unaddressed when it was reported.
Your legal options
Koffels Solicitors & Barristers acts for survivors of historical institutional child abuse, including former students of Christian Brothers schools such as St Virgil’s College.
For most survivors, a civil compensation claim is the pathway we recommend. Compensation is assessed on the actual harm you have suffered, including to your health, relationships, career, and quality of life, and it is not capped. Virtually all claims settle before a hearing, and confidentiality is standard.
In 2018 Tasmania removed the time limit for civil claims involving child sexual abuse or serious physical abuse of a child. In most cases, it is therefore not too late to act, although individual circumstances still matter. Read more about limitation periods for historical institutional abuse claims.
The Christian Brothers participate in the National Redress Scheme. The Scheme may suit some people where a civil claim isn’t viable, but payments are capped at $150,000, a figure rarely reached in practice. The average payment for serious abuse is approximately $80,000, and many payments are significantly lower. Accepting a Scheme payment permanently extinguishes your right to bring a civil claim. Applications close on 30 June 2027.
We do not prepare or lodge Scheme applications, but we strongly recommend independent legal advice before applying. We can help you work out:
- whether a civil claim is likely to result in greater compensation
- whether a Scheme application is a viable alternative in your situation
- what risks and limitations apply to each pathway.
Our review of the National Redress Scheme explains our position in more detail.
A call to witnesses and survivors
If you attended St Virgil’s College and experienced or witnessed physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, we would like to hear from you. Even if your memory feels incomplete, your account may help support other survivors or corroborate existing claims.
Every conversation is private and confidential. Call us on 02 9283 5599 or complete the free, confidential call-back form below.
