Mystery surrounds why the long-time partner of convicted baby killer Keli Lane was suddenly dismissed by the Sydney north shore school where he taught for 30 years.
Veteran PE teacher Patrick Cogan, 50, was escorted off the premises from the Chatswood campus of St Pius School without any official explanation last month.
It’s believed his ongoing relationship with Lane is at the centre of the controversy, although it’s understood no formal reason has been given to him.
But Mr Cogan has loyally stood by Lane for years, even after her trial and murder conviction, and the couple made no secret of their relationship.
Sources close to the couple have told Daily Mail Australia their high-profile public past has made the decision to unexpectedly stand him down now ‘simply baffling’.
‘It makes no sense though because Pat’s support for Keli is not new and it certainly has no reflection on his teaching ability,’ a school insider said.
‘He never brings it up at work and is well respected by his students and other teachers. It’s completely out of the blue.
‘I’d be willing to hedge a bet there were no external complaints made.’
Patrick Cogan has publicly stood by Keli Lane for years, even after her trial and murder conviction, making the decision to stand him down now all the more baffling
Mystery surrounds the shock removal of Keli Lane’s long-time partner from a Sydney school amid claims his support for the convicted child killer is to blame
Patrick Cogan, who had taught PE for 30 years at Sydney’s St Pius School on the lower north shore, was escorted from the Chatswood campus last month without any official explanation
The school has declined to shed any light on the reason for the axing, and declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
School staff were said to be ‘blindsided’ by the decision, which was not even officially announced to students who were left in the dark over his sudden disappearance.
The school insider claims it may stem from an entirely separate case to Lane’s conviction, which can’t be discussed for legal reasons.
‘Nothing has been said and the kids were all left scratching their heads wondering where he had gone,’ the insider said.
‘Most found out in the media and still don’t really understand it.
‘Patrick is a bit lost now. Being a sports teacher is all he has ever known and not to have that each day is a massive adjustment.
‘He has never been warned about his relationship with Keli before.’
Mr Cogan was Lane’s childhood sweetheart and the pair grew up together in Sydney’s northern beaches and dated as teenagers, reuniting years later.
The bizarre trial made international headlines – but Cogan never doubted his girlfriend’s innocence, publicly pledging his allegiance and unwavering love
The school has declined to make a statement regarding the decision which has blindsided staff and students
He was already a key part of Lane’s life when she concealed a series of five pregnancies between the ages of 17 and 24.
The couple reconnected and began dating again while Lane was under police investigation.
He was by her side when she was arrested in 2009 for murdering her baby daughter Tegan in 1996.
She left the hospital with the baby in secret and returned home alone hours later, but claimed she had given the child to its father, a mystery man called Andrew Norris who proved untraceable, and she never saw either again.
Mr Cogan sat in the public gallery almost every day during her four-month trial and sent her long-stemmed roses when he couldn’t attend.
The trial made international headlines – but Mr Cogan never doubted his girlfriend’s innocence, publicly pledging his allegiance and unwavering love.
When she was jailed for 18 years in 2011, Lane’s eyes searched the courtroom as she was sentenced before she turned to her mum and asked: ‘Where’s Patrick?’
Since her incarceration, Cogan has been a regular name on Lane’s visitor log and, speaking almost daily on the phone and the pair have exchanged pages of love letters
Lane was originally due for parole in May 2024 but her bid was rejected under the ‘no body, no parole’ laws introduced in 2022.
Mr Cogan has been a regular on Lane’s visitor log since then and speak almost daily on the phone while also sending reams of love letters to each other.
Lane walked free from jail after almost 14 years behind bars when she was granted weekend release and she returned straight into the arms of her devoted partner.
Mr Cogan is now Lane’s sponsor for her weekend release from jail where they stay at his $2.6million home on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The couple were spotted enjoying the autumn sun at Fairlight Beach Rockpool near Manly in April where Lane donned a tropical-themed bikini and electronic ankle monitor.
‘The silver lining is that Keli now gets weekend release and that’s been his focus, building their relationship on the outside,’ the source said.
‘They are like a couple of giddy teens in love. Keli has been supporting him and he is so grateful for her.
The insider added: ‘If anything, a lot of his peers see his loyalty as a testament to his character.
‘All these years on, they are still together and that says a lot about their relationship.’
Mr Cogan has since lodged a complaint against the school with the Fair Work Commission and is due to appear in court in July.
