Brother Gerald Fitzgerald

Born in Ireland in 1902, Christian Brother Gerald Leo Fitzgerald entered the Christian Brothers in 1919. He moved to Australia in April 1921 and took final vows in 1927.

Between 1921 and 1975, when he retired, he worked at numerous institutions where vulnerable children were under his care, including:

• St Augustine’s orphanage in Geelong
• St Vincent’s orphanage in South Melbourne, and
• St Alipius Boys Primary School in Ballarat.

St Alipius was a nest of paedophiles, and Fitzgerald taught there for 13 years. He taught Grade 3 at St Alipius and over his time there he sexually and physically abused numerous young boys.

He had a terrifying temper and would hit and punch boys, slam their heads in their desks, box their ears and electrocute them. He would then often take those very same boys and sit them on his lap during class and kiss, fondle and molest them.

He brought groups of young boys swimming to a nearby creek where he would watch them change and swim naked.

The Christian Brothers had concerns about his behaviour with children since at least 1950 but he continued to be placed into positions of authority over young boys until he was finally made to retire from St Alipius in 1975.

However, he continued to live on the grounds of another boys school, St Patrick’s Secondary School in Ballarat, where he continued to come into contact with boys. St Patrick’s had boarding students and Fitzgerald had free access to boys in their dormitories there.

He died in 1987 without ever being charged with any child abuse offences.

If you have any further information or you want legal advice in relation to Brother Gerald Fitzgerald, please call 1300765702 or complete the confidential enquiry form below.