The former headmaster of Knox Grammar School admitted that he hindered legal inquiries into child sexual abuse allegations at the school and deliberately misled a police inspector heading the investigation, a royal commission heard.
In an explosive confession before the commission Dr Ian Paterson said he failed to assist an officer from the child protection enforcement agency when she questioned him about six teachers suspected of abuse in 1996.
At the time three of the teachers under suspicion were still working at the Wahroonga school.
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to child Sexual Abuse heard Inspector Beth Cullen met Dr Paterson at the school in 1996 and asked for information about the teachers. Dr Paterson told the commission he was aware of sex abuse allegations against five of the teachers at that time but did not tell the officer.
He told the commission he referred her to their staff files in full knowledge they contained no recordings of child sexual abuse.
Under questioning by counsel assisting David Lloyd, Dr Paterson agreed that he deliberately misled Inspector Cullen and hindered the investigation but said he could not remember why.
"I can't recall why I did not reveal to Inspector Cullen my information about those teachers," he said.
Dr Paterson said Inspector Cullen should have questioned him more closely about the allegations.
He agreed it appeared he was trying to protect the teachers but when asked by Mr Lloyd whether he also wanted to maintain the school's reputation he replied: "I can't recall."
Dr Paterson agreed with Mr Lloyd's assertion that his actions were a "gross failure."
Five teachers, including four who were included in the original 1996 investigation, were convicted of sex offences against students in 2009.
Under questioning about convicted teacher Barrie Stewart, Dr Paterson admitted he tried to cover up potential legal action by one of the former music teacher's victims, known as ATJ, in 1992.
Dr Paterson told the commission that he allowed Stewart to continue teaching very young boys despite knowing he was an accused sex abuser.
The 81-year-old who ran Knox for almost three decades admitted in evidence that he was putting young boys at risk and this was an "unacceptable failure" on his part.
Mr Lloyd asked Dr Paterson why a number of potential instances of child abuse he was aware of were omitted from his statement to the royal commission but Dr Paterson denied downplaying his evidence.
He also denied indecently assaulting former Roseville College student Lucy Perry, who gave evidence on Monday.
Dr Paterson told the commission that despite his evidence, his apology to victims delivered on Tuesday was genuine.
"That's . . . my apology in my words," he said.
The hearing, before Justice Jennifer Coate, continues.
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