PADUA College students were never in any danger from convicted rapist Robert Fardon when he spoke at the Brisbane college in early May, Brisbane archdiocesan pastoral services director Fr John Chalmers said.
Fr Chalmers said the visit was made in good faith that Catholic Prison Ministries believed the visit would not breach Mr Fardon’s parole conditions.
Fardon spent almost 30 years in Queensland jails for serious sex offences against girls and women and was the first prisoner to be detained indefinitely under the state’s controversial Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act introduced in 2003.
“The boys were never in danger and Robert Fardon was supervised at all times, but it was a mistake and it won’t happen again,” Fr Chalmers said.
Fr Chalmers said a Padua College teacher had asked Catholic Prison Ministries if a former prisoner could speak to Year 11 students.
Mr Fardon spoke to the students but did not discuss his crimes or offer any self-justification – he told the students of his drug and alcohol riddled youth.
“He basically said don’t drink or do drugs or you’ll end up in jail,” Fr Chalmers said.
Fr Chalmers said there was no program of prisoners visiting schools as reported in the media, and Mr Fardon’s visit to Padua College was the only visit to a school in the past two years.
He said a Catholic Prison Ministries staff member had accompanied Mr Fardon to the school, walked with him to the classroom, was in the classroom with the teacher during the talk, and took him from the school.
He said some students sent letters to Catholic Prison Ministries after the talk by Mr Fardon, and these were passed on to him.
“Basically they said thanks for coming, I’ll never touch drugs,” he said.
Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane apologised to students and staff at the college, and said “it certainly won’t happen again”.
