Brother William Lebler

William Lebler (born in 1922 and now deceased) is a former clergy member of the Order of St John of God Brothers Order served in New Zealand and Australia. Brother Lebler (also known as Brother Thaddeus) was part of New Zealand’s “Inquiry into the Order of the Brothers of St John of God at Marylands School and Hebron Trust’”, who published there findings on the Order in July 2023. In 2005, Brother Lebler, was charged with sexual abuse by New Zealand Police and who applied for his extradition from Australia without success. The application for extradition failed in the NSW Local Court with the Sydney Magistrate finding that Brother Lebler would not get a fair trial due to his infirmity (as he had been assessed with borderline dementia at the time) and his age. He was 83 at the time.

According to the New Zealand Inquiry, William Lebler had been the subject of 22 reports of abuse. The complaints made against him concerned conduct/abuse that was said to have occurred between 1955 and 1965 when he was a teacher at Marylands School in Christchurch, New Zealand. At the time, Brother Lebler was facing nine charges of indecent assault, five of buggery or attempted buggery, fourteen of indecent assault upon a child under the age of 12 and four of sodomy under the New Zealand Crimes Act of 1908 and 1961. If he had been extradited to New Zealand, he was facing the possibility of a life sentence if convicted.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against members of the St John of God Brothers.

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.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.