RELATED: 'Dead' teacher denies abuse claims VICTIMS advocate Liz Little wants a former Tasmanian teacher accused of child sex abuse to return to Australia for a royal commission into paedophilia. The Sexual Assault Support Service chief executive said ex-Hutchins teacher Ronald Thomas, 77, should be referred to police who have extradition powers. Mr Thomas has denied allegations made to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he was part of a paedophile ring abusing students in the 1960s. The commission thought Mr Thomas dead until The Australian found him living in regional New Zealand. When contacted by The Examiner a male at Mr Thomas's home said he was not there and hung up. Mr Thomas could return voluntarily but the commission has no powers to compel him. It heard last month in Hobart that Mr Thomas habitually and violently abused boys when he was a music teacher at the elite school. Former police commissioner Richard McCreadie told the inquiry that Mr Thomas had confessed to the abuse but fled to South Africa days before he could be arrested. Mr McCreadie, then a junior detective, said he believed the government would not approve the cost of extradition at the time. Mr Thomas flatly denied the allegations to The Australian. "I made no statement; no confession statement," he said. "One of those [police] men came back two or three weeks later and I … said, 'It's my word against yours'. And he said 'Yes, OK', so I said, 'Bye, bye'. There was never any question of an arrest." Mr Thomas said the student may have mistaken him for another music teacher. Ms Little said the ordeal raised questions about the handling of child abuse allegations. "We've seen it throughout the whole of the royal commission hearings that people think if someone moves 200 kilometres down the road they're not their problem anymore," he said. "Well they're somebody's problem." Tasmania Police said it had received six referrals from the commission and all were under investigation. It said the new information about Mr Thomas would be considered. The Hutchins School reiterated its apology while the royal commission will also considering the issue. New Zealand police are investigating whether he has been the subject of complaints. The New Zealand Teachers' Council said there had been no complaints made against Mr Thomas in the 12 years he was registered as a teacher there. Mr McCreadie could not be reached for comment. ● If you need support contact Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 or the Sexual Assault Support Service on 6231 1822. pbillings@examiner.com.au
VICTIMS advocate Liz Little wants a former Tasmanian teacher accused of child sex abuse to return to Australia for a royal commission into paedophilia.
The Sexual Assault Support Service chief executive said ex-Hutchins teacher Ronald Thomas, 77, should be referred to police who have extradition powers.
Mr Thomas has denied allegations made to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that he was part of a paedophile ring abusing students in the 1960s.
The commission thought Mr Thomas dead until The Australian found him living in regional New Zealand.
When contacted by The Examiner a male at Mr Thomas's home said he was not there and hung up.
Mr Thomas could return voluntarily but the commission has no powers to compel him.
It heard last month in Hobart that Mr Thomas habitually and violently abused boys when he was a music teacher at the elite school.
Former police commissioner Richard McCreadie told the inquiry that Mr Thomas had confessed to the abuse but fled to South Africa days before he could be arrested.
Mr McCreadie, then a junior detective, said he believed the government would not approve the cost of extradition at the time.
Mr Thomas flatly denied the allegations to The Australian.
"I made no statement; no confession statement," he said.
"One of those [police] men came back two or three weeks later and I … said, 'It's my word against yours'. And he said 'Yes, OK', so I said, 'Bye, bye'. There was never any question of an arrest."
Mr Thomas said the student may have mistaken him for another music teacher.
Ms Little said the ordeal raised questions about the handling of child abuse allegations.
"We've seen it throughout the whole of the royal commission hearings that people think if someone moves 200 kilometres down the road they're not their problem anymore," he said.
"Well they're somebody's problem."
Tasmania Police said it had received six referrals from the commission and all were under investigation.
It said the new information about Mr Thomas would be considered.
The Hutchins School reiterated its apology while the royal commission will also considering the issue.
New Zealand police are investigating whether he has been the subject of complaints.
The New Zealand Teachers' Council said there had been no complaints made against Mr Thomas in the 12 years he was registered as a teacher there.
Mr McCreadie could not be reached for comment.
● If you need support contact Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 or the Sexual Assault Support Service on 6231 1822.
