Reality television personality Laura Byrne has publicly criticized Scots College for its handling of a case involving three students accused of rape. Byrne expressed her outrage via an Instagram Story, stating she was "disgusted" by the institution's actions, which she described as "protection" for the accused.
Byrne's comments came shortly before one of the three teenagers charged in the incident was suspended from the Sydney private school. The schoolboys, aged 13 and 14, are accused of aggravated sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl in a Bondi Junction alleyway on July 22. The incident occurred on a school night.
Three boys from Scots College were arrested and charged last month in connection with the alleged assault. Byrne's statement highlighted that the boys were moved to at-home learning rather than being expelled. "Shielded and protected by an institution that is responsible for shaping so many future men," she wrote.
On Tuesday, one of the accused students was suspended from the school. In a court hearing, a judge denied the boy's request to access YouTube and the PlayStation Network, citing concerns that he could contact the alleged victim, witnesses, or co-accused. The defense lawyer stated the boy was under de facto house arrest and sought access for educational and recreational purposes. The judge deemed the educational benefit of YouTube minimal and cautioned against early access to social media.
Under their bail conditions, the three boys, who cannot be legally identified, are subject to a curfew and restrictions on leaving home without parental supervision. They are also prohibited from interacting with each other outside of school, visiting Bondi Junction, accessing social media, or contacting the alleged victim. NSW Police have obtained apprehended violence orders against all three boys to protect the complainant, including a condition to stay a specified distance from a particular address.
The charges against the students include aggravated sexual assault with an offender in company, and aggravated sexual touching. The severity of the charges is heightened by the allegation that all three were together during the assault.
During a previous court hearing, a judge issued warnings to the media against publishing the identities of the accused boys, noting that some information had already surfaced on social media. The trio is scheduled to appear in court again on October 20.
Scots College, with annual fees up to $54,000, has reportedly hired a public relations firm to manage the reputational fallout from the scandal. This case represents one of the most significant scandals in the school's 133-year history.