A FORMER Hunter Marist Brother who was found guilty of 13 serious child sex offences against two students on Tuesday after a trial in Sydney has entered guilty pleas to offences against another 17 students on Thursday.
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Francis William Cable, 82, known as Brother Romuald when he taught at Marist Brothers schools at Hamilton and Maitland, is in custody after a short appearance this afternoon before Sydney District Court Judge Whitford.
He pleaded guilty to multiple child sex offences between 1960 and 1974 after he was found guilty on Tuesday of all 13 indecent assault and buggery charges against two students.
The guilty pleas mean a series of trials over the next two months are no longer required.
The offences occurred at the schools, and at Myall Lakes, Bar Beach, New Lambton and Pagewood.
Former students spoke of their fear of Brother Romuald, who indecently assaulted boys behind his desk after calling them out in front of class or after ordering them to stay behind alone after lessons.
‘‘I was so scared of Romuald that I actually used to wet my pants every time he came near me in class,’’ a former student said in his statement to Strike Force Georgiana police.
A woman whose husband was sexually abused by Romuald said he became increasingly agitated over the years as Hunter priests and Brothers were charged with child sex offences.
In one conversation the woman said her husband cried: ‘‘If I hear about one more priest that we know getting charged, I’m out of the church. I’m finished. I can’t take it any more.’’
Francis Cable will be sentenced at a later date.
