Acting headmaster of school at the centre of abuse scandal is forced to step down less than a day after her promotion due to allegations she also tried to cover up a grooming complaint
- Acting deputy headmaster Janet Canny of St Kevin's College asked to step down
- Counsellor Maree Keel alleges Ms Canny stopped her from reporting allegations
- Former athletics coach Peter Kehoe was convicted in 2015 of grooming student
- St Kevin's College headmaster Stephen Russell gave court a character reference
- Head of athletics Luke Travers also penned character reference for Kehoe
Janet Canny of St Kevin's College in Melbourne stepped down from her role on Thursday morning amid allegations she asked the school counsellor to cover up a grooming complaint
The acting deputy headmaster of an elite school embroiled in a child sex scandal has been forced to step down amid allegations she asked the school counsellor to cover up a grooming complaint.
Janet Canny of St Kevin's College in Melbourne stepped down from her role on Thursday morning - a day after she was promoted - after the school's counsellor Maree Keel filed a complaint against her in the Federal Court.
Ms Keel, who has been on sick leave since November, filed the complaint on Wednesday alleging Ms Canny stopped her from reporting the grooming incident between a student and teacher.
Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA), the governing body of the $19,000-a-year school, confirmed that Ms Canny was stepping down.
'I write to advise that St Kevin's College deputy principal Janet Canny has been asked to step aside from her duties pending an investigation into allegations regarding her handling of a staff member's complaint,' executive director Wayne Tinsey wrote in a letter to parents and guardians, The Age reported.
'Mrs Canny strongly refutes these allegations.
'The investigation will receive the highest priority and be conducted by professionals external to the College and EREA.'
The $19,000-a-year school is embroiled in a child grooming scandal
Peter Kehoe was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order in April 2015
Lawyer Josh Bornstein who is representing Ms Keel alleges the pair were involved in a dispute in August last year when Ms Canny attempted to stop Ms Keel from reporting the student's allegations.
'She also alleges that wasn't the first time, there was in fact three issues of student welfare where she sought to report them, and where on each occasion there was obstruction or attempts to stop that happening,' Mr Bornstein told the ABC.
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Ms Keel further alleges in her claim that she was bullied into resigning with a nice retirement package.
'When she knocked that back, she was told her position was abolished, her position as head of counselling as abolished,' Mr Bornstein said.
'That was the last day she attended school and she's been on sick leave ever since.'
Ms Canny's removal as acting deputy comes a day after headmaster Stephen Russell resigned as it was revealed he and head of sport Luke Travers wrote glowing character references for Peter Kehoe in court, according to ABC's Four Corners.
He said students' wellbeing was his biggest priority and 'the current situation means that the best way to achieve this is to resign'.
Headmaster Stephen Russell resigned as it was revealed he and head of sport Luke Travers wrote glowing character references for Peter Kehoe in court, according to ABC's Four Corners
Kehoe (pictured), a former running coach at the prestigious school, was convicted of grooming a student under the age of 16 in 2015.
Kehoe, a former running coach at the prestigious school, was convicted of grooming a student under the age of 16 in 2015.
Mr Russell was under significant pressure to resign this week after the ABC lifted the lid on his character reference for Kehoe.
Kehoe received a two-year community corrections order and 100 hours of community work.
Mr Russell and Mr Travers wrote court character references for Mr Kehoe.
Mr Travers was also formally stood down 'pending further investigations of issues raised during the Four Corners program'. No replacement has been named for him.
The EREA confirmed on Wednesday that John Crowley, who is currently the principal of St Patrick's College in Ballarat, will be headmaster until the end of the 2020.
Luke Travers, the dean of sport, also gave evidence in support of Kehoe during the trial
The student 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'.
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.
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.
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'
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.
He claimed no one from the school had been in touch with him or his family during that time to offer support.
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.'
Headmaster Stephen F. Russell said he is receiving 'professional advice' in a letter sent to parents warning of an ABC expose due to air on February 17
The leader of the prestigious Catholic school then promised children would be provided with 'support' in the aftermath of the television report.
'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.
Founded in 1918, St Kevin's College Toorak is a leading Catholic boys school
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