Convicted paedophile Jonathan Harvey told the Royal Commission that when sexual abuse claims were raised against him in 2004 the headmaster of Geelong Grammar offered a generous retirement deal to end his tenure.
“I was very grateful” Harvey said of the offer made by then principal, Nicholas Sampson, who is now headmaster of Sydney’s prestigious Cranbrook School.
“He suggested that he’d been led to believe that if I retired early, a formal complaint would not be made, but he wasn’t of course certain of that,” he said according to an ABC report.
The commission received documents showing a deal whereby Harvey would leave the school with a $64,000 retirement pay out.
The Commission has also heard that colleagues voiced concerns about inappropriate relationships formed by Harvey and several boys in 1991.
Harvey was later charged with 10 counts of gross indecency committed between 1976 and 1978.
“I want to express how appalled and deeply disturbed I feel for all of you,” said Lister Hannah, who was principal between 1995 and 1999.
“Those who have been victims of the child sexual abuse that we have heard about over these past few days, especially for the suffering and the inescapable damage of a lifetime it has caused you.
“I am very sorry and apologise both as a private individual and as a past principal.”
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