The old school of Losi Filipo, right, has come out in support of their former student.
The old school of Losi Filipo, right, has come out in support of their former student.
The former high school of Losi Filipo has come out in support of its old student.
Filipo was discharged without conviction about two months ago after being charged with assaulting four people during a night out in Wellington last October.
His contract with Wellington Rugby was terminated by mutual consentfollowing the discharge and ensuing furore.
St Patrick's College Silverstream rector Gerard Tully tackled the issue at the first assembly of the new school term, and in a newsletter on Monday, Fairfax reported.
Filipo was in his final year of studies at the college when the incident happened.
"We do not wash our hands of him, but stand beside him as he seeks to address the harm done and rebuild his life on his journey to become a 'compassionate, just and successful citizen' of New Zealand," Tully wrote in the newsletter.
"As a Catholic and Marist school, and in this Year of Mercy, we remain passionately committed to the Gospels and values/virtues/gifts that flow from them, such as honesty, forgiveness, hope and redemption."
He said the school opposed violence and hoped all those affected by the incident would recover from their trauma and be able to enjoy life again.
