Child sex abuse class action launched

Thirty-five Victorian men have joined a child sex abuse class action against the Christian Brothers order.

Lawyer Vivian Waller is representing the men who say they were abused while they were students at schools run by the order.

Christian Brother Robert Best is appealing against a 14-year jail sentence for offences between the 1960s and 1980s in schools around Victoria, including Ballarat.

Ms Waller says more men are coming forward.

"I act for the men in relation to Brother Best [who] has recently been convicted or entered a guilty plea and that was approximately 14 people," she said.

"Since that time, the numbers have expanded to 35. So more people are coming forward all the time."

She says other men have come forward who allege abuse that has not yet been heard in court.

"My office has been inundated with former students of St Alipius in Ballarat and St Patrick's in Ballarat and other schools in Melbourne taught by the Christian Brothers," she said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-22/child-sex-abuse-class-action-launched-against-christian-brother/2911416?section=vic