Ballarat child sexual abuse survivor Phil Nagle, 54, can hardly contain his jubilance as former Christian Brothers’ teacher, Stephen Farrell is finally imprisoned.
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“He is going to jail. It’s not long enough, but he’s going to jail where he belongs,” Mr Nagle said.
Stephen Farrell, 66, was on Monday remanded in jail after his appeal (lodged on 22 February 2018) was abandoned before the court.
The original sentence will now apply and Farrell will serve two suspended concurrent sentences of two months each, with an effective state term of four months in jail.
Farrell has twice previously avoided prison on child sexual abuse charges. In February this year, Farrell pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault for sexually abusing two students when he was a teacher at Ballarat's notorious St Alipius boys primary school in the 1970s, bringing the number of his victims to five.
In 1997, Farrell received a two-year suspended sentence for nine counts of indecent assault and a three-month suspended sentence in 2013 for another count of indecent assault.
Until Monday, June 18, Farrell had never been jailed for his crimes.
“I’ve waited for this day for 44 years,” Mr Nagle says, as he talks about the lifetime of damage that Farrell’s abuse had caused him.
“I will remember this day forever, just as I can never forget the days I was abused.”
Mr Nagle said he was hopeful other victims – he knows of at least four – will find the courage to come forward.
Mr Nagle said he would continue to fight on for other survivors.
“I am standing up for those who no longer have a voice,” he said, referring to some of Farrell’s victims who have taken their own lives.
SUPPORT: Ballarat CASA – (03) 5320 3933.
Crisis Care 24 hours – (free call) 1800 806 292.
