Brother Paul Van Ruth

Brother Paul Van Ruth (real name Peter Paul Van Ruth) was a former member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He was born in 1946. He became a novice with the Salesians in 1964 doing his religious training at the Salesian seminary in Oakleigh, Melbourne. In 1969, the received his final vows thus becoming a fully pledged brother with the order and he commenced his teaching career at Salesian College (“Rupertswood”) in Sunbury, Melbourne. At Rupertswood, Brother Paul was also in charge of the dormitory, supervising the the boarders during the night.

It is reported that Brother Paul sexually assaulted two boarders in 1969 in the dormitory at Rupertswood when both students were in vulnerable mental states. The two boarders did not report the assaults to the Salesian hierarchy but one of the victims’ parents complained about what had happened leading the Salesians to transfer Brother Paul to South Australia and removing him from the order in 1970. He subsequently became a lay teacher in South Australia. In 1978, Mr Van Ruth was allowed to teach again within the State’s Catholic education system, going on to teach at different Catholic schools throughout his career. In 1993, the Catholic Education Office even supported Mr Van Ruth’s registration as a teacher with the public schools registration board.

In 2006, the victim whose parents had complained in 1969 and who still felt aggrieved by what had happened to him, reported the abuse to Victoria Police. This led to Victoria Police charging Mr Van Ruth in 2011 been found guilty in the Melbourne County Court of three counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 28 months in prison, with a minimum of 16 months.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against members of the Salesians at various schools and institutions around Australia.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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