An elite private school that backed a former running coach accused of grooming a Year 9 student has been forced to escort their students on public transport over fears for their safety from the public.
Peter Kehoe who coached at Melbourne’s $19,000-a-year St Kevin’s College has been convicted of grooming a child under the age of 16 in 2015.
The school’s headmaster, Stephen Russell, and head of sport Luke Travers wrote glowing character references for Kehoe in court, as was revealed by the ABC’s Four Corners.
On Tuesday, Mr Russell issued a letter to parents saying a roster would be set in place for teachers to travel to and from school with students for the rest of the week.
Students also refused to stand for Mr Russell and sing the school song during an assembly as fury continues to grow surrounding the school’s handling of the child grooming case.
Former running coach of St Kevin’s Peter Kehoe was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order in April 2015
‘Ever mindful of our current students’ safety and wellbeing we have put in place rosters that will see staff travelling on public transport morning and afternoon for the rest of this week,’ Mr Russell said in the letter, The Australian reported.
Parents are now calling for Mr Russell and Mr Travers to be removed from the school.
‘(Parents are) just about in open revolt. Whatsapp groups going into meltdown. They want Travers, Russell and the two teachers gone this week,’ one parent told The Herald Sun.
The publication said the school confirmed two more teachers were being investigated over abuse claims.
Other parents are reconsidering sending their children to the school with one former St Kevin’s pupil Joel Deane saying Mr Russell ‘should take the ultimate responsibility for the imperfections of the school you lead and resign’.
Elite Melbourne private boys school St Kevin’s College (pictured) has been accused of siding with an athletics coach after allegations of child grooming were made by a student
Some students have been travelling without their uniforms on in fears they would be targetted by the public.
One was in Year 9 when his athletics coach Peter Kehoe began sending him disturbing messages on Facebook.
They included telling the boy he loved him, saying his thighs were ‘gorgeous’ and that he was the ‘best thing since sliced bread’.
St Kevin’s College headmaster Stephen Russell (pictured) wrote a glowing reference letter for convicted child sex offender and former coach Peter Kehoe ahead of his sentencing in 2015
When the victim, who is now 20, mentioned how he had a Japanese oral presentation due, Kehoe replied: ‘That’s not the only oral you’ll have to do’.
The schoolboy also said Kehoe made comments about chocolate milk dripping down his face that left him feeling ‘tense’.
The most traumatising incident happened after training one day, when Kehoe invited the boy over to his home to look at old yearbooks.
‘It was probably one of the scariest times of my life,’ the boy told ABC’s Four Corners.
The student only escaped the unnerving situation when his mother called and Kehoe had to drive him home.
Athletics coach Peter Kehoe sent disturbing messages to the Year 9 student (pictured: Mock-ups of the messages he sent)
Messages included telling the boy he loved him, saying his thighs were ‘gorgeous’ and that he was the ‘best thing since sliced bread’
The boy and his mother went to the police after the incident and Kehoe was charged with one count of grooming a child under the age of 16.
The schoolboy left the school while the case was heard in court.
Bravely discussing how he fell victim to child grooming, he said ‘everything in my life changed’ from the moment he gave an interview to police.
Kehoe (pictured) was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order in April 2015
Luke Travers, the dean of sport, also gave evidence in support of Kehoe during the trial
He claimed no one from the school had been in touch with him or his family during that time to offer support.
Kehoe was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order in April 2015. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for eight years.
The school released a statement saying ‘the care and development of students, staff and the broader St Kevin’s community is, and always has been, our first priority’.
‘The actions of Peter Kehoe were completely unacceptable and St Kevin’s College strongly condemns them. After his conviction, he was immediately banned from entering the school or having any contact with the college or its students,’ it read.
‘For legal reasons, St Kevin’s College is not able to provide any further comment at this time.’
Ahead of the release of Four Corners’ exposé, Mr Russell penned a letter to parents warning the college would feature on the program but did not go into detail.
‘Dear parents and guardians,’ the letter provided to 3AW begins.
‘We are aware that St Kevin’s College will be featured in a program by the ABC Four Corners. It is likely to air on 17 February.
‘We felt it was important to inform our parents of this program.
‘We are currently seeking professional advice and will be in a better position to respond and communicate with you again, once we see the actual program.’
The leader of the prestigious Catholic school then promised children would be provided with ‘support’ in the aftermath of the television report.
Founded in 1918, St Kevin’s College Toorak is a leading Catholic boys school
‘Our students will be supported and spoken to on the day after the program in age-appropriate addresses and assemblies,’ he continued.
‘It would be inappropriate to make further comment until then. In the meantime, please be assured that, as always, the care of our students is our first priority.’
Last October, St Kevin’s College was plunged into controversy after a video surfaced of students singing a sexist chant on a tram.
The school responded by immediately suspending the students involved, but a second video came to light days later of students performing another x-rated rap.
After the leaked videos generated negative publicity, a former student spoke out against the ‘misogynistic culture’ he believed was entrenched within the all-boys school.
Founded in 1918, St Kevin’s College is a leading Catholic boys school based in Melbourne’s most expensive suburb, Toorak.
The student settled a civil claim against the school last year.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted St Kevin’s College for comment.