Paul Keaney

Brother Paul Francis Keaney, MBE, ISO (5 October 1888 – 26 February 1954) was an Irish-born Australian Catholic educator. He was accused of abusing the children under his care.

Biography Keaney was born on 5 October 1888, at Corralskin, Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim, Ireland, son of Terance Keaney, farmer, and his wife Mary, née McGowan. In 1911, he migrated to Australia and in 1916 he became a Christian Brother. In 1924, he became headmaster at Clontarf Orphanage, and he later taught at Christian Brothers College, Perth, and Christian Brothers College, Fremantle.

Abuse of child migrants Keaney imposed forced labour on children under his authority. The boys were made to do the building work in bare feet. They were worked so hard that they developed burns and sores on their feet and hands. Their breakfast invariably contained brick dust. They were made to sleep on urine-soaked mattresses. Furthermore, the boys would be beaten with belts, which had heavy buckles. The beatings would be conducted in front of the other boys. The boys' trousers would be pulled down, in front of the other boys, before they received their beatings. His record came under unfavourable scrutiny after former students recalled his role as that of a brutal disciplinarian with an ungovernable temper, who neglected their education, exploited their labour and turned a blind eye to sexual misconduct by staff members.

Towards the end of 2016, the Christian Brothers dismantled Keaney's ornate marble grave at Bindoon Agricultural College, and moved his remains to a plot at Karrakatta Cemetery. The new grave is marked by only a simple plaque and makes no mention of his past.

Honours Keaney was given the honours of MBE and ISO in 1953.