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A former priest and school dean has been jailed for seven years and eight months for sexually abusing young people at a leading Christchurch boys’ high school.
Rowan Maxwell Donoghue, 69, worked at St Bede’s College as a priest and dean of boarders.
The offending took place between 1996and 2000 while he was working at the school, and involved four students.
Today, Donoghue appeared at Christchurch District Court before Judge Jane Farish on six charges, including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16, indecent assault on a boy 16 and over, and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.
He was sentenced to seven years and eight months’ prison, with no minimum term of imprisonment.
Judge Farish acknowledged the victims’ bravery and said it showed they were strong, despite the adversity the offending had caused.
Tears were shed as victims read out statements on how Donoghue’s offending had impacted them.
One victim said after the offending against him, it “felt like a spark had been put out”, describing what followed subsequently as the hardest battle of his life.
He said the abuse against him had changed the trajectory of his life, and he was often left wondering what his life could have been had it not happened.
Another said he had carried years of shame.
Crown prosecutor Courteny Martyn said no sentence could adequately recognise the harm caused to victims who were “highly vulnerable” at the time of the offending.
“He was to care for those young boarders day and night, and was able to exploit that authority to his own advantage,” Martyn said.
Defence counsel Josh Lucas said Donoghue had acknowledged his offending and was apologetic for the harm he had caused.
