Brother Brian Robert Gordon

Brian Robert Gordon was born on 15 December 1942 and became a member of the Marist Brothers religious order. He taught in New South Wales during the 1960s and early 1970s, including at a Marist Brothers primary school at Dundas in Sydney.

1964–1972: Teaching as a Marist Brother

Gordon taught as a Marist Brother in New South Wales from 1964 until 1972.

During his time teaching at the Marist Brothers school at Dundas, he sexually abused boys who were his pupils. The offences that later came before the courts involved four boys, each approximately 11 years old, and occurred between 1969 and 1971.

According to evidence subsequently heard in court, several parents complained to Marist Brothers authorities about Gordon's conduct during 1971–72. Gordon admitted the allegations to his religious superiors.

Rather than reporting the complaints to police, the Marist authorities told the parents that Gordon would be removed. Gordon later told the court that his superiors advised him to change schools and "put it behind him."

In early 1972, Gordon left the Marist Brothers and subsequently continued his career as a lay teacher.

1972–1996: Continued career in Catholic education

After leaving the religious order, Gordon moved to Queensland and obtained teaching positions within Catholic education.

According to evidence presented during his later criminal proceedings, the information concerning the allegations against him was not passed on to the relevant Catholic education authorities in Queensland.

Gordon subsequently rose to a senior administrative position within Catholic education in Brisbane, eventually becoming Deputy Director of Catholic Education for the Brisbane Archdiocese.

His continued employment within Catholic education meant that the allegations made against him while he was a Marist Brother did not prevent him from pursuing a substantial career in the education system.

1996: Previous complaints uncovered

Gordon's history came to light again in 1996, when one of his former pupils reported the matter to the Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service, which was examining allegations concerning corruption and paedophilia.

The information was subsequently investigated by New South Wales Police. Further former pupils of Gordon were identified, leading to criminal charges.

1998: Criminal conviction and imprisonment

On 28 September 1998, Gordon appeared in the Sydney District Court.

He was then aged 55–56 and pleaded guilty to several offences involving the sexual abuse of boys at the Dundas school. A jury subsequently found him guilty of additional offences.

The court ultimately dealt with eight sexual offences involving four boys. Gordon received a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment, with a minimum term of six months.

The offences included multiple counts of indecent assault and acts of indecency. Other allegations were not proceeded with as part of the resolution of the case.

The court's criticism of the Marist Brothers

The handling of the complaints by the Marist Brothers was strongly criticised during the proceedings.

The court heard that parents had brought their concerns to Marist authorities years before Gordon was prosecuted. The allegations were not reported to police at the time.

The court also heard evidence concerning one of Gordon's former pupils who had been taken to a priest for confession following the abuse. The child was given a religious penance involving prayers.

Judge Kenneth Horler commented on the impact that the abuse had had on the victim, including its continuing effect on his personality and attitude towards authority.

The judge also criticised the Marist Brothers for their handling of the original complaints and their failure to ensure that Gordon's history was communicated to the Brisbane Archdiocese.

The court considered that the Marist Brothers had to "bear some responsibility" for what had occurred.

2005: Later historical research

Further information about Gordon's departure from the Marist Brothers emerged in a University of Sydney thesis completed in 2005 by former Marist Brother John Braniff, who had been known within the order as Brother Valerian.

Braniff's thesis, The Marist Brothers' Teaching Tradition in Australia 1872–2000, examined the history and teaching practices of the Marist Brothers in Australia.

On page 196, Braniff described a former Marist Brother who had become the subject of complaints from parents concerning sexual abuse of students. The Brother subsequently resigned from the order and continued working as a layman within an interstate Catholic education office until he was prosecuted in the late 1990s.

Although Braniff did not identify the man by name in the thesis, the circumstances correspond to Gordon's known history.

Braniff wrote that the reason for the Brother's departure appeared to have been "hushed up" at the time. He also recorded that the school newsletter described the departure simply as being "for personal reasons".

The account provides additional historical context concerning how Gordon's departure from the Marist Brothers was presented publicly at the time.

Significance of the case

The Gordon case illustrates how allegations of child sexual abuse could be dealt with internally by religious institutions rather than being reported to police.

In Gordon's case, complaints were made by parents while he was still a Marist Brother, and he admitted the allegations to his superiors. Nevertheless, he left the order and subsequently obtained employment within Catholic education in another state.

His eventual prosecution followed a former pupil's decision, many years later, to report the abuse.

The case also demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between criminally established offending and broader allegations or institutional criticisms. Gordon was convicted in 1998 of offences against four boys; the court also examined the earlier handling of complaints by the Marist Brothers and criticised aspects of that institutional response.

Key dates

Year	Event
1942	Brian Robert Gordon born on 15 December.
1964	Began teaching as a Marist Brother in New South Wales.
1969–1971	Sexual offences against boys at the Marist Brothers school at Dundas, Sydney.
1971–72	Parents complained to Marist authorities; Gordon admitted the allegations to his superiors.
1972	Gordon left the Marist Brothers and subsequently continued teaching as a layman.
1970s–1990s	Continued working within Catholic education in Queensland and eventually held a senior administrative position.
1996	A former pupil reported the matter to the Wood Royal Commission; police subsequently investigated.
1998	Gordon was prosecuted and sentenced in the Sydney District Court following convictions for sexual offences against four boys.
2005	Former Marist Brother John Braniff's University of Sydney thesis provided further historical information about the circumstances surrounding Gordon's departure from the order.