BY DAKOTA TAIT
Survivors of convicted child abuser and former Hamilton Marist Brother Francis William Cable say he won't be missed, after he died earlier this week.
Better known as Brother Romuald, he passed away in custody early Monday morning with suspected heart disease, at the age of 90.
The Clergy Abused Network has reached out to all survivors and families of victims who it was aware of, or who were known to police or the courts.
Chair Bob O'Toole says in many ways, it's a relief for survivors, though the death could raise bad memories too.
"The reaction from the people is generally... there won't be any tears shed for Romuald, of course," he said.
"They're all in pretty good shape. There are a couple of his survivors who are somewhat fragile, but we're looking out for them and making sure they're being well looked after."
Mr Cable was convicted of sex offences against more than 20 victims, throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
In 2015, he was jailed for a maximum of 16 years, after pleading guilty to the abuse of 19 victims at schools in Hamilton, Maitland, and Sydney.
He returned to trial in 2017, facing another 14 offences against five more victims, and eventually plead guilty and received another eight years behind bars.
His sentence would have expired in March 2031, though he would have been eligible for parole as early as March 2026.
It's understood, Mr Cable was set to reappear in Newcastle District Court next year over further allegations of assault against another boy in the 1970s.
"I know there are some who have completed the police interviews and so on to have him charged further," Mr O'Toole said.
"That won't happen now, of course. They'll be a little bit disappointed, but generally I think the feeling is the world's a better place without him."
Mr Cable's death comes only months after the death of Hunter priest Vincent Ryan, who was convicted over the abuse of 37 children.
While Mr Cable was never officially employed by the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, it says it will continue to extend support to survivors and their families.
The Marist Brothers have been contacted for comment, though the Clergy Abused Network says it has tried to approach them.
Mr O'Toole says fraternal organisations like the Marist Brothers, as well as Catholic dioceses, need to be more proactive as former abusers pass away.
"There are quite a few perpetrators that are incarcerated now and are getting up in years," he said.
"These things are going to recur every little while, and there needs to be a strategy and a protocol for dealing with it."
"I'm not reaching everyone. There are victims of Romuald that I'm unaware of."
"I'm sure with the news there'll be more of his victims and survivors who might speak up."
If you or someone you know needs support, you can call Lifeline at 13 11 14.
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| Image credit: Nine News. |
