Social media allegations led to sex charges against Hamilton teacher: police

A Hamilton Catholic school teacher is facing a number of sex charges after police investigated claims made against him that first surfaced on social media.

Hamilton police say they arrested Brian Boyle, 53, on Wednesday and charged him with four counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual interference.

Boyle is a teacher at Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School.

In a release Thursday, police said allegations on social media led to more alleged victims coming forward.

“Hamilton Police opened an investigation after reports of sexual violence and sexual harassment began circulating regarding a Bishop Ryan Secondary School teacher on social media,” police said. “Following a public appeal, several (alleged) victims came forward to report.”

Boyle is scheduled to appear in court on December 6, 2021.

In September, an alleged victim claimed in a Facebook post that she was sexually assaulted, both verbally and physically, by the suspect over a period of three years from 2003-2005.

It was only when she learned her own daughter was now in the suspect’s class that she decided to speak out, ultimately sparking the police investigation that led to Boyle’s arrest.

“It was not until my daughter came home listing her teachers for the year when my stomach sank when I heard his name,” she wrote in the social media post.

“I was a child, and now I have children, this needs to be public and shared.”

With files from John Marchesan