More than thirty years ago, a Brisbane Grammar School headmaster walked in on a student with his pants around his ankles in the office of a pedophile counsellor.
He was furious and launched into a tirade - directed at the boy.
"(He) asked what was wrong with me," the victim told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
"He was really angry."
The testimony given to a public hearing in Brisbane on Wednesday is one of many regarding school counsellor Kevin John Lynch who committed suicide in 1997 after being charged with child sex offences.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said it was "common knowledge" Lynch molested scores of students in his secluded office.
At times he said he saw Lynch for counselling sessions daily, where he was given tablets that made him drowsy and anally penetrated until he bled.
"I had to throw away my underpants, mostly so my parents wouldn't find them," he said.
He also recalled being taunted by a relief or casual physical education teacher on a school camp in Year 9, who told him he knew his "dirty little secret".
Other teachers often made sarcastic comments if he did turn up for class, while students would chant "poof, poof, poof" under their breath, he said.
Tensions rose at the oftentimes emotional hearing when the witness replied to questioning from the school's lawyer, Walter Sofronoff, QC, about his claims then-headmaster Maxwell Howell had walked in on the half-naked student.
"Well, I suggest to you that you weren't there. It did happen," he replied, as the courtroom erupted into applause.
He later termed the former solicitor-general's legal duties "morally reprehensible".
Subsequent dealings with the school were strained and there was a presiding sentiment they were more concerned with the institution's image than confronting abuse suffered by a significant number of boys, he said.
One of these boys was a fellow student and likely Lynch victim called Nigel Parodi - a man who shot three police officers in a suburban street in May 2000.
He was found in bushland three weeks later dead from an apparent suicide.
The witness said one thought entered his mind when he read news reports about his childhood friend.
"I had this overwhelming feeling - this could've been me."
The royal commission continues.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
