Kirchenakte1955-1993 · 38 years
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New Zealand, Marylands School and Hebron Trust, abuse by the Brothers of St John of God (Royal Commission 2023)
From 1955 to 1984 the Catholic Hospitaller Order of St John of God ran Marylands School in Christchurch, a boarding school for disabled boys, and afterwards the Hebron Trust for homeless young people. In 2023 the state Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found: 118 of 537 pupils reported abuse, and 19 of 37 brothers were accused of child sexual abuse. The brothers raped and beat the children; the order transferred accused brothers instead of reporting them and paid high legal costs to fight their extradition.
- Period
- 1955-1993 (38 years)
- Report published
- 31 July 2023
- Country
- Australia, New Zealand
- Institutions
- Hospitaller Order of St John of God
Bishop of Christchurch
Marylands School
Hebron Trust - Category
- Violence, Sexual abuse, Cover-up
- Level of evidence
- A Primary source · what does this mean?
- Persons
- Bernard McGrath (Brother of St John of God, convicted in New Zealand and Australia of more than 100 offences)
Bruder Moloney (head of Marylands in the 1970s, convicted in 2008, died 2019)
Bischof Cunneen (Bishop of Christchurch, according to the report took no responsibility)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
- Of the 537 boys who attended Marylands, 118, more than one in five, reported abuse. Many were disabled or had learning or behavioural difficulties and were admitted from the age of six; the Hebron Trust took in mainly street kids, some only eight years old, many of them Māori.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„Of the 537 boys who attended Marylands School, more than one in five (118) reported abuse while in the school’s care.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 2, S. 30 (PDF-S. 32)
„Many of the boys placed at Marylands were disabled or had learning or behavioural needs, and those in the care of Hebron Trust were often ‘street kids’.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 2, S. 30 (PDF-S. 32). Original · Archive copy
How were they charged and sentenced?
- Of the 37 brothers who worked in Christchurch, 21 were accused of some form of abuse, 19 expressly of child sexual abuse. On average five of every seven brothers present at the same time were alleged perpetrators.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 28, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36)
„Of the 37 brothers from the Order who ministered in the Christchurch community when the Order operated Marylands, 21 had allegations of some form of abuse made against them. Nineteen brothers had specific allegations of child sexual abuse made against them.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 28, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 29, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„on average there would be seven brothers at a time appointed to the Christchurch community, five of whom would be alleged perpetrators of abuse“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 29, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy - Brother Bernard McGrath was sentenced in Christchurch to three years in 1993, to five years on 22 charges in 2006, in Australia to 33 years for 64 offences against 12 boys in 2018 and to a further 29 years in 2019. In total he was convicted of more than 100 offences. Brother Moloney, head of Marylands in the 1970s, was convicted in 2008; the order then stated that he remained a member and would be housed in Australia.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 31, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„In 1993, Brother McGrath was sentenced in Christchurch to three years’ imprisonment for 10 charges of indecencies“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 31, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 34–36, S. 36 (PDF-S. 38)
„In 2018, Brother McGrath was convicted in Australia and sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment for 64 offences against 12 boys at Kendall Grange“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 34–36, S. 36 (PDF-S. 38). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 34–36, S. 36 (PDF-S. 38)
„In total, Brother McGrath was convicted in five court cases, two in Aotearoa New Zealand and three in Australia, of more than 100 offences over three decades.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 34–36, S. 36 (PDF-S. 38). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 32, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„was convicted in Christchurch in 2008 on seven charges“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 32, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 32, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„Brother Moloney is still a member of the Order and will be accommodated within the Order in Australia.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 32, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy
What happened to those affected?
- According to survivors, the brothers routinely raped the boys and forced them into sexual acts; sometimes two or more brothers abused a child at the same time. Those who did not comply were beaten. The brothers used the faith: abuse was presented as "spiritual cleansing"; one survivor was raped on the marble altar table. Instead of being taught in class, children often had to work in the laundry, kitchen and on the land.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„Survivors told the Inquiry that the brothers routinely raped, masturbated and indecently assaulted the young boys in their care.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„There were times when two or more brothers sexually abused a child at the same time“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 13, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 14, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„Some brothers characterised the sexual abuse as spiritual cleansing“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 14, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 14, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„One survivor described being raped on the marble altar table.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 14, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 12, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34)
„Children were often put to work in the laundry, kitchen and on the land rather than being taught in class.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 12, S. 32 (PDF-S. 34). Original · Archive copy - About three quarters of the survivors interviewed turned to drugs or alcohol, often followed by offending. Many considered or attempted suicide; others took their own lives.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 22, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36)
„About three-quarters of survivors we spoke to had turned to drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with the abuse they suffered“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 22, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 24, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36)
„Many told us they had contemplated or attempted suicide. Tragically, others have lost their lives this way.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 24, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36). Original · Archive copy
Witness accounts and records
The Catholic Church in New Zealand engaged a group of untrained, religious strangers to educate children in need of care at Marylands. These men then used and abused their spiritual and physical power and dominance, destroyed the lives of children and then discarded them.
Background
Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)
- Bishops and the order's leadership saw sexual abuse as "a sin", not a crime, and protected the reputation of the brothers. After the matter became known in 2002, the Bishop of Christchurch, Cunneen, took no responsibility and spoke out to protect the reputation of the Church.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 5, S. 31 (PDF-S. 33)
„Seeing sexual abuse as ‘a sin’ and not a crime, bishops and leaders within the wider Catholic Church and the Order took steps to protect the reputation of the Order’s brothers when allegations of abuse were made.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 5, S. 31 (PDF-S. 33). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 41, S. 37 (PDF-S. 39)
„Bishop Cunneen failed to take any responsibility for the Order’s conduct. Instead, he expressed discontent for the media attention and spoke out to protect the reputation of the church.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 41, S. 37 (PDF-S. 39). Original · Archive copy
Who received the assets, who profited?
- Over several years the Australian-based order spent considerable sums on legal costs to prevent the extradition of several brothers to New Zealand. Police investigations were hampered by the lack of cooperation by the order and the brothers.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 30, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„The Australian-based Order spent significant sums on legal costs over several years to try to stop extradition of several brothers to face trial in Aotearoa New Zealand.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 30, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 30, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37)
„these were hindered by a lack of co-operation from the brothers and the Order“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 30, S. 35 (PDF-S. 37). Original · Archive copy
Response of the Church
- An anonymous complaint made in 1977 to the Provincial in Sydney against Brothers Moloney and McGrath was disregarded. Instead the order applied the "geographical cure": Moloney was transferred to the Vatican, McGrath to an institution for disabled children in Australia, where he continued his abuse.
Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 27, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36)
„A 1977 anonymous complaint of sexual abuse against brothers Moloney and McGrath to the Order’s Sydney-based Provincial was disregarded.“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 27, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36). Original · Archive copy Evidence: Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland), Executive Summary, Abs. 27, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36)
„Moloney was transferred to the Order’s operations in the Vatican. McGrath was transferred back to Kendall Grange, the Order’s institution for disabled children in Australia. There he continued his abuse“
Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, Executive Summary, Abs. 27, S. 34 (PDF-S. 36). Original · Archive copy
Original documents to read
- Government report
Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Neuseeland): Stolen Lives, Marked Souls: The inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust, 31 July 2023. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 15 Oct 2026)
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