Allegations that he sexually abused boys at Christchurch's Marylands School were today met with repeated denials by a Catholic brother.Rodger William Moloney spent two-and-a-half hours being questioned by crown prosecutor Chris Lange on the ninth day of his trial in the High Court at Christchurch, the Christchurch court news website reported.
He has denied 23 sexual abuse charges involving nine boys, dating back to the 1970s when he was prior of the Order of St John of God community in Christchurch, which included the former Marylands School and hospital.
He said it was fairly common for brothers at the school to use time-outs for boys when they misbehaved and that was why boys were sent to sit outside his office sometimes.
He had no strap himself, at his office. There may have been straps at the school, but he did not think canes were used. He was not aware of any misuse of corporal punishment at the school.
He denied that he had "favoured" one of his alleged victims.
He acknowledged he may have hugged some of the boys.
He denied that two boys had spoken to him about abuse by Brother Bernard McGrath, who has since been convicted on some charges and jailed.
Moloney, 73, said he was shocked when the allegations against himself were told to him through the St John of God order, which had eventually made "pastoral gestures" - payments to some boys.
"It was all taken for granted that the allegations were true," Moloney said in evidence. "I was never given a chance to talk about or look at the allegations."
He had been forced to resign all his posts but he remained a brother of the order. The experience had tested his faith but in the end had probably made it stronger.
When Mr Lange put the whole series of allegations by the alleged victims to him, one by one, he said repeatedly that the incidents had simply not happened.
He could not say whether they were making up the claims, or were mistaken about who performed the abuse.
Moloney was the only witness before lawyer Greg King closed the defence case.
Closing addresses will begin on Monday.
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