Bernard Kevin McGrath (born 22 May 1947) is a New Zealand convicted child sex abuser and former member of the Catholic religious order the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God. He is considered to be the most notorious offender in the most notorious religious order in Australia. His victims include orphans, children with intellectual and physical disabilities and homeless children in Australia and New Zealand.
McGrath has been convicted of child sexual abuse on five occasions in Australia and New Zealand and is currently being held at the South Coast Correctional Centre, Nowra, New South Wales.
Early life and career Bernard McGrath was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He grew up with his parents, one brother and one sister. McGrath's father was a butcher but previously worked as a cleric and was determined his son would follow a life of service to the church. McGrath studied at Xavier College, Christchurch, and despite wanting to study veterinary science, six months after leaving school he joined the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God when he was 18 years old.
In 1967, he spent six months as a postulate studying and working at Kendall Grange, Morisset, New South Wales.
In early 1968, McGrath took his vows of poverty, obedience, chastity and hospitality. He remained at Kendall Grange until 1969. In early 1969, he moved to Burwood and became a scholastic, working in psychiatric wards. Despite a desire to become a nurse, he enrolled at a teachers' college at Oak Hill and was awarded a Diploma of Teaching. During this time, he reported that he was involved in a sexual relationship with Brother Berchmans Moynahan.
In 1972, McGrath was transferred to the order's school in Churinga, Victoria, and placed in charge of a classroom program. In 1973, he was transferred back to Kendall Grange, where he worked as a teacher for one year.
Maryland's School, Christchurch, New Zealand In 1974, McGrath completed his training and was transferred to Marylands School, Christchurch for children with learning and behavioural difficulties. McGrath worked as a dormitory master and teacher and would later allege a culture of violence, fear, sexual abuse and concealment. The prior at the school was Brother Roger Moloney, who would also later be convicted of child sexual abuse.
McGrath told police that Moloney had threatened McGrath's progress in the order unless he acceded to sexual demands made of him. Sexual contact occurred between McGrath and Moloney.
In April 1977, Brother Brian O'Donnell approved Brother Moloney's nomination of Brother McGrath as sub-Prior of the Christchurch community.
In mid-1977, the provincial of the order, Brother Brain O'Donnell, received two written complaints about McGrath and Moloney offending against children. O'Donnell told police he considered the letters were "a malicious attempt to have the two brothers removed." O'Donnell said he destroyed the letters "because of the harm they could do."
On 3 September 1977, despite knowledge of this offending, O'Donnell transferred McGrath to Australia and later to Kendall Grange, another school for disadvantaged children.
Ten days later, Moloney was transferred to Rome, where he worked for a year as a pharmacist in the Vatican. O'Donnell travelled to Christchurch in October 1977 but made no attempt to investigate the allegations. O'Donnell wrote to Moloney and told him "after careful enquires into the allegations made...I am convinced they were completely unfounded."
Also in 1977, Brother Timothy Boxall received a phone call from a sister who worked at the nearby hospital saying McGrath was sexually abusing boys. Boxall alleges he passed on the allegation to Brother Brian O'Donnell.
Kendall Grange, New South Wales, Australia In 1981 McGrath became headmaster of Kendall Grange, a boarding school for boys aged between 8 and 15 who suffered from behavioural, emotional or intellectual problems. The brothers of the order ran the school with the assistance of lay staff.
Around 300 boys lived at the school, housed in dormitories. Between four and ten brothers resided at Kendall Grange at any one time and a brother was allocated to a dormitory or section and was directly responsible for the care and welfare of the boys under his supervision.
McGrath was in charge of red section and assumed the role of prior principal. He held this role between 1980 and 1986, which was the period that saw the majority of his offending. McGrath sexually abused scores of children at Kendall Grange, including Jason Van Dyke.
Hebron Trust, Christchurch, New Zealand
Despite knowledge of his sexual abuse of children at Marylands and Kendall Grange, in 1986, McGrath left Kendall Grange to establish Hebron Trust, a residential program in Christchurch for troubled teenagers and young adults. As the sole brother responsible for the operations of Hebron Trust, McGrath had direct contact with the District Police Commander's Office and Youth Aid.
In 1991, two social workers complained to the order's leadership that McGrath was making sexual advances towards four children in their care. When they received no response, they reported their suspicions to Christchurch police.
28 victims, most under 18 years old, reported to the Order that they had been abused by McGrath during their time at Hebron Trust.
Complaints
In 1992, Jason Van Dyke's mother, Janice, personally reported her son's sexual abuse by McGrath to Brother Joseph Smith. Smith admitted he had received another complaint about McGrath six months earlier but assured Janice "Don't worry, we are dealing with it."
In October 1993, former Marylands student Brian Uttinger reported that Brother Rodger Moloney had sexually abused him.
In December 1993, the mother of a boy who attended Marylands in the 1970s had written to Cardinal Thomas Williams, Archbishop of Wellington, saying that her son had been sexually assaulted throughout the entire two years he had been at the school.
Cardinal Williams passed this information on to the Bishop of Christchurch, Bishop Meeking, who asked Brother Joseph Smith to "write to the person concerned indicating you have received it from the Cardinal and that the matter is being dealt with."
In December 1999, another victim disclosed that Brother McGrath and Brother Moloney had sexually abused him at Marylands.
In December 2001, a survivor told Christchurch priest Father Paddy Cahill he had been sexually abused. Cahill met with Brother Burke to discuss the allegation.
Father Brian Lucas On 12 August 1992, Brother Joseph Smith advised Father Brian Lucas of the allegation against McGrath. Lucas advised Smith to tell McGrath that "Allegations have been made, you do not need to give me any details, there is an official protocol that is fair and just for everyone concerned...dangerous for B to return to NZ."
Smith dispatched Brother Julian to bring McGrath back to Sydney. Smith immediately placed McGrath in Burwood Psychiatric Hospital.
On 15 August, Smith brought McGrath to St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, where they met with Lucas. At this time, Lucas led the Australian Catholic church's response to the emerging scandal of child sexual abuse by priests.
Smith's notes from the meeting say "B told his story and had confession with Fr. David. Brian Lucas suggested I go to lawyer by myself and retell story. B not up to it and requires treatment immediately."
As a civil lawyer, Lucas established the church's Special Issues Resources Group responsible for dealing with allegations of child sexual abuse against clergy. Lucas gave evidence to the Royal Commission that his role was to help the bishop or major superior "manage the person making the complaint, see that their needs were met and get the offender out of the business".
Over the course of his career, Lucas met and interviewed over 30 abusive priests and religious, including Father Denis McAlinden, Father John Farrell, Father John Nestor and McGrath. Lucas took no notes of these meetings, despite the priests confessing to sexually abusing children in their care. He reported none of the offending to the police.
During the meeting at St Mary's Cathedral, McGrath confessed to Lucas that he had sexually abused children and there would be many more complaints. Despite this admission, neither Lucas or Smith reported McGrath to police. In 2019, Lucas acknowledged the meeting took place but said he was not obliged to report McGrath to the police. Lucas denied his failure to report the child sexual abuse to the police was a cover-up.
Jemez Springs Shortly after the Lucas meeting, Brother Joseph Smith accompanied McGrath to Jemez Springs, a treatment centre run by the Catholic order the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete for sexually abusive clergy and religious in New Mexico, United States. At least one other Australian Catholic priest was sent to Jemez Springs, the Ballarat offender Father Gerald Ridsdale.
During 1993–94, McGrath took part in the Jamaica program, a six-month residential treatment for religious personnel who had committed sexual offences against children. During this course, McGrath was required to identify all the children he had sexually abused. None of this information was ever reported to police. McGrath was treated by Sarah Brennan, who stated McGrath surpassed all other clients in the program.
After leaving the program, McGrath moved to Chicago and stayed with other members of his order. During this time, McGrath was notified by Smith that police wanted to question him over multiple allegations of child sexual abuse. Smith offered McGrath the chance to remain in the United States, but in late 1993 he returned to New Zealand to be interviewed about his alleged abuse of two boys at Marylands and four altar boys associated with the life skills course at Hebron Trust.
Convictions and imprisonment
On 23 December 1993, McGrath pled guilty and was sentenced in the High Court of New Zealand to three years' imprisonment. While serving this sentence, he admitted offences upon three more students from Marylands. He also participated in the Kia Marama Sexual Offenders Program in Rolleston Prison.
In 1995, he was granted parole and started his own cleaning business. He also commenced a psychology program through North Carolina University.
During 1995, Jason Van Dyke made a statement to Chatswood police alleging that McGrath had sexually abused him at Kendall Grange between 1982 and 1983. McGrath was extradited to Australia and on 30 January 1997 pleaded guilty to all six charges relating to Van Dyke. McGrath was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment. In October 1997, McGrath was released from jail and returned to New Zealand and was discharged from the St John of God order.
Following publicity around McGrath's conviction, more allegations emerged and in 2003 and McGrath was again arrested by Christchurch police. He agreed to a six-hour interview with Detective Sean Buckley. The arrest resulted in a number of charges and an indictment containing 54 counts of sexual abuse upon multiple complainants.
During that time, five other members of the order, Brother Roger Moloney, Brother Raymond Garchow, Brother William Lebler and Brother Rodger Mount all faced child sexual abuse allegations.
In 2006, McGrath was found guilty on 21 charges of child sexual abuse against nine victims aged between 7 and 15 years old. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. In 2008, as McGrath was released on parole, Brother Roger Moloney was sentenced to two years and nine months on seven counts of sexual abuse of children at Marylands.
Following the devastating Christchurch earthquake, McGrath moved to Ashburton and took on the role of care-taker for a 20-acre farm. He then set up a tea business and travelled to Sri Lanka.