The former principal of a Victorian Catholic school who indecently assaulted two brothers in the 1970s has again avoided jail after abusing students.

Gerard Joseph McNamara, 78, was handed a 16-month sentence – wholly suspended – by Victorian County Court judge James Parrish on Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of indecent assault arising from "sports massages" he gave the teenage boys in 1975.

Gerard McNamara outside court in 2005. Credit:Michael Clayton Jones

Loading

McNamara had previously been sentenced to 36 months – also wholly suspended – in 2005 for seven counts of indecent assault that occurred in the same circumstances.

AAP