Notorious paedophile back in jail
A Christian Brother and convicted paedophile who changed his name to avoid adverse publicity has been jailed for six years for abusing young boys in the 1970s and ’80s.
Ted Bales, 65, formerly known as Edward Dowlan, pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting boys, aged between eight and 14, when he was a teacher and headmaster at number of Christian Brothers colleges across Victoria.
The Victorian County Court heard Bales physically punished his victims to make them vulnerable.
He was previously jailed in the 1990s for abusing other boys, some of them the classmates of the victims in the latest case against him.
One victim told the ABC at Bales’ plea hearing that the brother’s actions had destroyed many lives.
“As a boy he terrified me, but now I’m an adult, I’m a man,” the victim said.
“He’s destroyed my life as it could have been.
“It’s the humiliation … of those 20, I’m the only one who can stand in front of the camera today.”
Brother moved from school to school
Monash University academic Judy Courtin spoke outside court at the plea hearing in February.
“How could that happen?” she said of Bales’ offending.
Young children entrusted to our care were deserving of absolute protection, yet some were sadly and tragically let down.
Br Peter Clinch, Christian Brothers Oceania Province
“He was shifted from one school to the other, nine schools in 15 years, and they knew what was going on.”
Prosecutors told the court the abuse had been reported to Cardinal George Pell in the 1970s, when he was a Ballarat priest.
The court heard Cardinal Pell’s response was “that’s ridiculous”.
In a statement, the Christian Brothers Oceania Province apologised to Bales’ victims.
“That innocent children were the subject of such crimes is a matter of deep regret for our entire congregation,” its leader, Brother Peter Clinch, said.
“Young children entrusted to our care were deserving of absolute protection, yet some were sadly and tragically let down.
“To those who were abused and who have carried that terrible legacy with them throughout their lives, I reiterate on behalf of every Christian Brother in this country our enduring and humble apology.
“To the communities in Victoria that have also endured this pain, we also apologise.”
Bales will serve a minimum term of three years in prison.
Victims said they were disappointed with the sentence.
