Father Roger Michael Bellemore

Father Roger Michael Bellemore was a member of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers) and served in New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia during a lengthy career. In February 2008, following years of court proceedings, the Tasmanian Supreme Court convicted him of multiple child sexual abuse offences committed while he was a teacher and boarding supervisor at Marist College in Burnie, Tasmania.

Early Ministry and Teaching

Roger Bellemore belonged to the Marist Fathers, a Catholic religious order that is separate from the Marist Brothers. The Marist Fathers have operated parishes throughout Australia and have also been involved in several Catholic secondary schools.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bellemore taught at Marist College (Marist Regional College) in Burnie, Tasmania. At the time, it was a boys-only boarding school. As both a teacher and boarding supervisor, Bellemore was responsible for the care of students during the day and at night.

Court evidence later established that Bellemore occupied a private room above the junior dormitory. Boys were regularly taken to his room under the pretext of receiving extra tuition. Victims testified that Bellemore sexually abused them by indecently touching them and forcing them to touch him.

Like many survivors of institutional abuse, the boys remained silent for decades because of fear, intimidation and the authority Bellemore held as both a priest and teacher.

Ministry After Leaving Tasmania

Bellemore left Marist College in 1972 and continued working in a variety of Catholic roles across Australia.

His known appointments included:

• St Anne's Parish, Belmont, Western Australia, during the late 1970s.

• Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, New South Wales (believed to have taught there).

• Chaplain at Edmund Rice College, Wollongong, during the 1980s and early 1990s.

• St Patrick's Presbytery, Church Hill, Sydney (1995–1996).

• A Marist Fathers residence at Lane Cove, Sydney (1997–2002).

• Chaplain at St Pius X College, Chatswood, in 2003.

He retired from ministry in 2003.

Police Investigation

In 2002, one former student reported Bellemore's abuse to police. Detectives subsequently identified additional victims, leading to a criminal investigation.

When Bellemore was charged in 2004, he was living at a Marist Fathers residence in Sydney.

Criminal Proceedings

In May 2004, 68-year-old Bellemore appeared in the Burnie Magistrates Court charged with three counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with a person under 17 and one count of indecent assault. He pleaded not guilty and was committed to stand trial in the Tasmanian Supreme Court.

During the pre-trial proceedings, the Marist Fathers funded an extensive legal defence. Defence lawyers sought to restrict media coverage and requested separate trials for each complainant. The court rejected that application and ordered a joint trial, allowing the jury to hear evidence from multiple victims.

First Trial (2006)

The first Supreme Court trial heard evidence relating to abuse committed between 1967 and 1971.

Former students described being repeatedly called to Bellemore's room for supposed tutoring, where they were sexually abused. One complainant testified that he was assaulted on several occasions, while another told the court he was required to visit Bellemore's room up to three times a week for two years.

The prosecutor argued that the strict school environment and Bellemore's position of authority prevented the boys from reporting the abuse.

In February 2006, the jury unanimously found Bellemore guilty on all four charges.

At his sentencing on 27 March 2006, the judge said Bellemore had abused the trust placed in him by both the students and their families, stating:

"You were in a position of power and you abused that power."

Bellemore was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of three years.

Following the verdict, the Provincial of the Marist Fathers issued a public statement expressing regret and apologising without reservation to the former students and their families.

Appeal and Retrial

Bellemore appealed his convictions.

In December 2006, the Tasmanian Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial. After spending approximately nine months in prison, Bellemore was released on bail and returned to Sydney pending further proceedings.

The retrial commenced in Launceston in July 2007. Bellemore again pleaded not guilty. However, after issues arose concerning witness evidence, the judge discharged the jury on 2 August 2007 and ordered a new trial.

Third Trial and Final Conviction

Bellemore's third trial began in the Launceston Supreme Court on 5 February 2008.

On 12 February 2008, after deliberating for approximately two and a half hours, the jury found the 72-year-old guilty of three counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with boys aged between 12 and 15.

Following the verdict, two victims read their impact statements to the court before Bellemore was remanded in custody.

At sentencing, the judge imposed a sentence of four years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of two years, less time already served.

The judge acknowledged Bellemore's poor health but ruled that imprisonment was necessary, stating that his offences represented a serious abuse of the trust placed in him as both a teacher and priest. The court found that Bellemore had exploited vulnerable boys for his own sexual gratification and that such conduct required strong public condemnation.