Teacher receives $1.3m dollar payout over mob attack at Marist

A Brisbane teacher who says she suffered permanent injuries after she was allegedly attacked by a mob of food-throwing private school boys has received a $1.27 million payout.

Victoria Sparrow took Marist College Ashgrove to the Supreme Court of Queensland over allegations she had been surrounded by up to 300 students in October 2023, leading to injuries she said doctors told her would stop her from working as teacher again.

In a statement on Tuesday she said she had accepted the WorkCover compensation rather than fight the school’s national organisation Marist Schools Australia and their “unlimited resources”.

“I have made that choice knowing that I need costly ongoing specialist treatment, both now and for many years ahead,” she said.

Rick Green, the barrister representing the school, argued the allegations about the culture of misogyny were irrelevant.

In a letter sent to school staff on Monday, Acting Head of College Paul Blinkoff said the payout made no finding of wrongdoing by the school.

“Throughout this process Marist College Ashgrove and Marist Schools Australia have engaged from a position of respect for Ms Sparrow and for what she said of her experience and the effect it had on her,” he wrote.

“We apologise to Ms Sparrow for her experience and its impact, and we earnestly hope that the resolution of this matter today provides her a foundation for healing and assists her recovery.”

During the court process, Marist teacher and union representative Madonna Spillane alleged the head of the college Michael Newman had said “boys will be boys” after Sparrow’s alleged attack in an affidavit.

In her statement, Sparrow thanked Spillane and former Marist teacher Stan Kosiek, who previously took the school to the Fair Work Commission over an unfair dismissal claim.

“I would like to thank two special people: Madonna Spillane, an incredibly brave co-worker who was prepared to stand right beside me … and the inspirational Stan Kosiek … he is genuinely someone young men can look up to,” she said.

Marist College Ashgrove has been contacted for comment.

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