St John’s College Woodlawn
St John's College, Woodlawn, located on the outskirts of Lismore, New South Wales, is a Roman Catholic co-educational secondary day school for Years 7 t0 12. The School is commonly known as Woodlawn and is administered by the Catholic Education Office of the Diocese of Lismore. Woodlawn was founded in 1931 by members of the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary) who moved from New Zealand to build and staff the School. Woodlawn was originally an all boys’ boarding school until 1998 when it became co-ed. It has a current enrolment of around 750 students.
In recent years, Woodlawn has been associated in allegations and matters dealing with child sexual and physical abuse by former lay teachers and members of the Marist Fathers. This includes the following:
James Sampson Doran - In 2014, James (Jim) Doran was charged by NSW Police with 19 charges in relation to allegations that he engaged in homosexual intercourse and had committed other forms of sexual assault on students under his care when he was and English teacher and boarding master at Woodlawn. By 2015 the charges had increased to 46 which included again engaging in homosexual intercourse and knowing no consent was given and soliciting or inciting a male to commit an indecent act. The charges were alleged to have occurred in the 1980s against 10 boys. James Doran contested all the charges and denied that any of the abuse happened. In 2017, however, James Doran (aged 83 at the time of sentencing) was found guilty of 41 charges and sentenced to 13 years in jail with a non-parole period of six years. He will available for parole in April, 2023.
Richard John O’Connor - In 2014, Richard O’Connor was arrested by NSW Police and charged with the sexual assault of 12 children at Woodlawn during the 1980s. Richard O’Connor was an English/Art teacher and discipline master at the School. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to 40 charges to the rape and sexual assault of the former 12 students. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 12 years’ jail.
Father Ian Stick - allegations of sexual abuse have been made against Father Ian Stick. Father Stick during his time at Woodlawn fulfilled various positions, including dormitory master, teacher, Infirmarian and School Chaplain. He served at the school between September 1968 and December 1981, and died in 1987.
Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse when they were students at St John’s College Woodlawn.
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.