Christian Brothers Sexual Abuse Claims and Asset Transfers Under Scrutiny

Content Warning: This article discusses historical child sexual abuse and may be distressing for some readers.

A recent ABC Four Corners investigation broadcast on 7 September 2026 has brought renewed attention to historical child sexual abuse claims being pursued against The Christian Brothers, and it’s financial position.

Among the victim-survivors affected is Damian Davies, who is represented by Turner Freeman Special Counsel, Hassan Ehsan. Hassan is an experienced institutional abuse lawyer who represents victim-survivors throughout Australia and regularly appears in Courts across the country. He also co-chairs the Australian Lawyers Alliance’s national special interest group on historical child abuse litigation.

Christian Brothers applies for a Moratorium on cases against it.

In June 2026, the Christian Brothers applied to the NSW Supreme Court to stop the progression of historical child sexual abuse claims against it, saying it was running out of money and facing imminent insolvency. It proposed a creditor’s scheme.

According to the ABC investigation, hundreds of victim-survivors around Australia had active claims against the Christian Brothers at the time. This included 21 victim-survivors whose settlements had reportedly already been agreed to but had not yet been paid. All cases were subsequently placed on hold, including matters that had reached the final stages of negotiation.

A report commissioned by the Christian Brothers’ lawyers reportedly estimated that the organisation faced approximately $774 million in present and future liabilities relating to child abuse claims.

The development came as victim-survivors and their lawyers learned more about the transfer of valuable school properties from the Christian Brothers to the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia (TEREA).

Questions raised over the transfer of school properties

TEREA is the national organisation responsible for 61 Catholic schools formerly operated under the authority of the Christian Brothers.

The ABC reported that, over almost a decade, the Christian Brothers transferred school properties worth hundreds of millions of dollars to TEREA, often without payment or for a nominal amount of one dollar. TEREA estimated that properties valued at approximately $891 million had been transferred from 2013 onwards. Those properties are now reportedly worth closer to $2 billion.

The transferred properties included land associated with prominent schools such as Waverley College in Sydney and St Kevin’s College in Melbourne.

The timing and scale of these transfers have caused concern among victim-survivors and their legal representatives, particularly now that the Christian Brothers say it does not have sufficient funds to meet its current and anticipated liabilities.

Speaking to Four Corners, Hassan Ehsan compared the situation with major corporate cases involving the restructuring or movement of assets.

“James Hardie comes to mind, the big tobacco cases in the US,” Hassan said. “Follow the money.”

The comments reflect the need for financial arrangements to be closely examined, and the frustration felt by victim-survivors whose claims have been delayed while questions surrounding the Christian Brothers’ assets, liabilities and proposed compensation arrangements are addressed.

Turner Freeman’s Institutional Abuse team represents Damian Davies

One of the victim-survivors affected by the suspension of proceedings is Damian Davies. He agreed to appear in the Four Corners program.

Mr Davies won the Channel Nine talent program New Faces as a 15-year-old in 1981. He alleges that the following year he was sexually assaulted by Peter Lennox, who was then the principal of Edmund Rice College in Wollongong and a member of the Christian Brothers.

Mr Davies told Four Corners that the alleged abuse had affected every part of his life.

“They ruined my life,” he said.

Mr Davies later experienced problems with drugs and alcohol, which he said he used to numb the effects of the alleged abuse. Although he has now been sober for years, he is gravely ill and continues to experience the consequences of what happened to him as a teenager.

Speaking to Four Corners about his attempts to progress the claim, Hassan said:

“Well, I couldn’t get a response from my opponents. My opponent would tell me that he can’t get instructions from his client.”

For Mr Davies, the resulting delay has added to the harm and uncertainty he has already experienced.

“If we die, it goes away,” he told Four Corners, expressing his belief that continued delays could prevent victim-survivors from ever receiving accountability or compensation.

What happens to the Claims against The Christian Brothers now?

TEREA has agreed, subject to approval of a revised creditors scheme, to become the Defendant responsible for current and future claims against the Christian Brothers. Lawyers representing victim-survivors have raised real concerns that the proposed legal and financial processes could result in some people waiting another one or two years for compensation and receiving a sum of money which is only a small fraction in comparison to the true value of the claim.

TEREA subsequently told Four Corners that it had secured a line of credit intended to accelerate payments to victim-survivors whose settlements had already been reached but remained unpaid.

For victim-survivors such as Mr Davies, the central issue is not simply the resolution of a legal claim. It is whether institutions connected to historical abuse will act transparently, accept responsibility, and ensure that victim-survivors can obtain meaningful compensation without being subjected to further avoidable delays and reductions in the compensation amounts.

We cannot overstate the courage Mr Davies showed in being interviewed by Four Corners. Turner Freeman will continue to advocate for Mr Davies as his case is currently litigated in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

View the Four Corners Investigation

Content Warning: The investigation published by the Four Corners program discusses child sexual abuse and suicide and may be distressing for some readers and viewers.

VIDEO: Christian Brothers Inc.