Following an ABC investigation, the state government has ordered a review into how vulnerable foster children were placed into the care of a Brisbane private school headmaster who has since been convicted of child abuse.
Former Christian Brother Stephen David McLaughlin had claimed in 1996 to have been a foster carer for up to 40 children through an arrangement involving private boy's boarding school St Joseph's Nudgee College and the then Families Department.
McLaughlin had been headmaster of the prestigious college from 1988 to 1993 before being appointed head of the Brother's Xavier province in 1996.
Earlier this year, McLaughlin was convicted of abusing a child he had been babysitting in 2015. The child had no connection to Nudgee College.
McLaughlin had been the subject of several failed police investigations related to child abuse allegations in the late 1990s and early 2000s including allegedly taking children to stay with him in motels. His lawyers have said their client denies any child abuse allegations.
He was also alleged to have associated in 1997 with a paedophile Nudgee old boy, Dennis Norman Douglas, who had pleaded guilty to abusing a child in 1994.
On Thursday Children's Department Minister Leanne Linard said she had ordered a review of the arrangement involving foster children being placed at the school.
"I asked for a review of all information holdings the department has on this matter and whether there are any matters of policy or practice to be addressed moving forward," Ms Linard said.
A spokesman for Nudgee College said the college discontinued the program many years ago and those who oversaw the program are no longer involved with the college.
Department calls for alleged victims to come forward
The Children's Department confirmed McLaughlin was given "caring responsibilities" for foster children in the 1990s despite having never been "formally assessed" as a foster carer.
These caring responsibilities included him being "referred to as a foster carer" and treated as such, according to a spokesperson.
This included being given permission to care for children away from school.
The spokesperson said McLaughlin had offered a range of scholarships to Nudgee College and support to vulnerable children and their families, some of whom were in the care of the department at the time.
The department has called for any former student to come forward if they were harmed.
Lawyers for McLaughlin said while he was the Nudgee headmaster he was nominated as the "temporary on-site foster care nominee for some students" as part of a plan to introduce education for needy families and disadvantaged children.
They said, their client undertook this for approximately three months prior to completion of his five-year term as college principal.
"At no time did any student from the program make any allegations of wrongdoing against our client,'' the lawyers said.
They said their client had nothing to do with the selection of the students concerned, the daily life or ongoing care of those chosen under the program.
McLaughlin's lawyers have said the various allegations made against their client in the 1990s and early 2000s were "found to be lies and constituted a complete fabrication of events and circumstances".
McLaughlin was earlier this year convicted of abusing a 12-year-old boy he had been babysitting in Brisbane in 2015.
Judge Tony Rafter ordered McLaughlin to serve a two-year suspended sentence on two indecent dealing convictions saying the offending had a significant impact on the victim.
McLaughlin's lawyers said their client was taking legal action to mount an appeal in respect of his recent conviction for the "dreadful and baseless charges" levelled against him.
Judge Rafter suspended McLaughlin's sentence for two years taking into consideration the defendant's health condition.
The Christian Brothers have also appointed Brisbane barrister Troy Spence to conduct an inquiry into issues associated with McLaughlin.
