Church Sent Sexual Offending Priest Overseas Without Notifying Police

Nearly two decades before he was convicted, Fr Rowan Donoghue told leaders of his religious order that he had abused a boy.

The admission came in 2007 after an anonymous message reached the Society of Mary; Donoghue acknowledged guilt but could not identify the complainant. The order removed him from public ministry and arranged a six‑month programme in Australia described as risk assessment and therapy, but it did not notify police because the accuser remained anonymous and outreach attempts failed.

The offending later proven in court involved four boys who boarded at St Bede’s College in Christchurch in the late 1990s. Police were not contacted until 2023, and only then did a formal investigation assemble the full picture. When the criminal process concluded, Donoghue admitted multiple charges, including indecent assault and sexual violation, tied to his time at the college. The convictions reopened old wounds for survivors and the wider school community.

School leaders said the court details were deeply disturbing. The rector of St Bede’s apologised to victims, described the revelations as sickening, and pledged full cooperation with authorities. He emphasised the school’s current safeguarding policies and invited anyone affected to come forward for support. A second school that employed Donoghue decades earlier, St Patrick’s Silverstream, said it had not been made aware of allegations from his time there and reiterated its focus on student wellbeing and survivor privacy. St Patrick’s College Wellington confirmed Donoghue had been on staff in the early 2000s.

The Society of Mary told another media outlet it had tried repeatedly to contact the anonymous complainant, encouraging him to identify himself and report to police so the matter could be properly investigated and the victim supported. The order said Donoghue had been permanently removed from ministry and remained under monitoring.

A professional body overseeing teachers confirmed it had been working with police and that its disciplinary process would examine whether reporting obligations were met. Authorities noted organisations sometimes face difficult choices when allegations arrive anonymously, and urged anyone with relevant information to contact police.

For survivors, the long arc from an anonymous email to conviction highlighted how institutional responses shape the path to accountability. Many who were harmed continue to seek recognition, answers, and the chance to heal.