Paul Keaney
Encyclopedia
Brother Paul Francis Keaney, MBE
, ISO
, was born on 5 October 1888, in Ireland
. In 1911 he migrated to Australia
and in 1916 he became a Christian Brother
. In 1924 he became headmaster at Clontarf Orphanage
, and he later taught at Christian Brothers College, Perth, and Christian Brothers College, Fremantle
.
His record as a disciplinarian has come under growing scrutiny after former students recalled his role as that of a brutal disciplinarian with an ungovernable temper, who neglected their education, exploited their labour and turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct by staff members.
In the 2001 Australian Senate Community Affairs and References Committee Report, titled Lost Innocents: Righting the Record - Report on Child Migration, evidence revealed the depraved, violent and abusive nature of Brother Keaney and his role in the systematic abuse of children under his care. In submissions to the Committee report, individuals who had been abused by Keaney described his brutality; "I lost my teeth at Bindoon - my face kicked repeatedly by Brother Keaney". Similarly - "Br. Keaney was a very sadistic, perverted and deviant paedophile. He abused many of the boys... in his care. Tragically, there was just no one that we victims could go to for help. Who would have believed us any way?".
In an effort to raise awareness of the issue, Senator Andrew Murray
spoke to a Matter of Public Interest stating "He (Keaney) was a sadist who indulged in criminal assault and who knowingly protected rings of predatory brothers engaged in systemic long-term sexual assault on defenceless children" (Hansard 2001, p.27275).
Keaney was appointed MBE
and ISO
in 1953. In response to overwhelming evidence submitted to the aforementioned Senate report, numerous attempts at rescinding Br. Keaney's Imperial Honours have been made. Despite these requests and Senate committee findings these Honours still remain. He has an oval at Aquinas College
named after him for his role in the purchase of their property from the Manning Family in 1937.
He died in Subiaco
on 26 February 1954, aged 65.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, ISO
Imperial Service Order
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
, was born on 5 October 1888, in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In 1911 he migrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and in 1916 he became a Christian Brother
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. In 1924 he became headmaster at Clontarf Orphanage
Clontarf Aboriginal College
Clontarf Aboriginal College is the current name of a former orphanage for boys operated by the Christian Brothers organisation in the Perth suburb of Waterford in Western Australia. Opening in 1901, the facility has been used for a number of purposes since, most notably as an orphanage but also as...
, and he later taught at Christian Brothers College, Perth, and Christian Brothers College, Fremantle
CBC Fremantle
Christian Brothers College Fremantle is a private, Catholic, day school for boys situated in Fremantle, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
.
His record as a disciplinarian has come under growing scrutiny after former students recalled his role as that of a brutal disciplinarian with an ungovernable temper, who neglected their education, exploited their labour and turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct by staff members.
In the 2001 Australian Senate Community Affairs and References Committee Report, titled Lost Innocents: Righting the Record - Report on Child Migration, evidence revealed the depraved, violent and abusive nature of Brother Keaney and his role in the systematic abuse of children under his care. In submissions to the Committee report, individuals who had been abused by Keaney described his brutality; "I lost my teeth at Bindoon - my face kicked repeatedly by Brother Keaney". Similarly - "Br. Keaney was a very sadistic, perverted and deviant paedophile. He abused many of the boys... in his care. Tragically, there was just no one that we victims could go to for help. Who would have believed us any way?".
In an effort to raise awareness of the issue, Senator Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray (politician)
Andrew James Marshall Murray is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008, representing Western Australia.Murray was born in Hove, in the United Kingdom...
spoke to a Matter of Public Interest stating "He (Keaney) was a sadist who indulged in criminal assault and who knowingly protected rings of predatory brothers engaged in systemic long-term sexual assault on defenceless children" (Hansard 2001, p.27275).
Keaney was appointed MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
and ISO
Imperial Service Order
The Imperial Service Order was established by King Edward VII in August 1902. It was awarded on retirement to the administration and clerical staff of the Civil Service throughout the British Empire for long and meritorious service. Normally a person must have served for 25 years to become...
in 1953. In response to overwhelming evidence submitted to the aforementioned Senate report, numerous attempts at rescinding Br. Keaney's Imperial Honours have been made. Despite these requests and Senate committee findings these Honours still remain. He has an oval at Aquinas College
Aquinas College, Perth
Aquinas College is a Catholic independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Salter Point, Western Australia. Its sister school is Santa Maria Ladies College located in Attadale...
named after him for his role in the purchase of their property from the Manning Family in 1937.
He died in Subiaco
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
on 26 February 1954, aged 65.
Sources
- Barry M Coldrey, The Scheme: The Christian Brothers and Childcare in Western Australia, Argyle-pacific Publishing, O'Connor, Western Australia, 1993, pp. 462 and 464.
- Western Australia Legislative Assembly, Report of the Select Committee into Child Migrants, Perth, 1996;
- House of Commons, Health Committee, The Welfare of Former British Child Migrants, Third Report, Session 1997-1998, HC 755-I and HC 755-II, Volumes I and II, London, 1997; - Links to report, submissions, public hearing transcripts;