By Stephen Ryan
The Herald
March 10, 2009
http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/convicted-priests-future-under-review/1455477.aspx
THE NSW Ombudsman is helping to assess the future of former Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese vicar-general Father Thomas Brennan after he was convicted of making a false written statement.
Brennan, 71, of Toronto, was stood down from the diocese ministry last year after he was charged over a statement he made to police in 1998.
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| Tom Brennan |
In that statement, Brennan said he could not remember any students or their parents making complaints to him in the 1970s of sexual impropriety at St Pius X High School.
Brennan was the Adamstown school's principal in the mid- to late 1970s and was a priest at Cessnock in 1998.
Evidence tendered to Newcastle Local Court contained statements from former students, parents and teachers who said they complained to Brennan about sexual impropriety at the school.
Defence barrister John Fitzgerald said there was a reasonable possibility that Brennan could not remember the complaints almost 20 years after they were made.
Magistrate Sharon Holdsworth convicted Brennan on Monday, placing him on a 12-month good behaviour bond.
Four students complained to their parents in the late 1970s about sexual abuse from a priest, a DPP statement said. Each of the parents then complained to Brennan.
One of the complainants told police Brennan caned him and said: "Get out of here with your fantasy stories".
A teacher also told police he complained to Brennan about two priests.
The teacher said Brennan told him to mind his own business and concentrate on teaching.
Brennan told the teacher the boys were receiving pastoral care and counselling from the priests, a statement said.
Bishop Michael Malone made a brief statement yesterday.
"Questions have been asked regarding Father Brennan's role of vicar-general and ministry as a priest," he said.
"A formal risk management process oversighted by the NSW Ombudsman will be undertaken forthwith.
"Our thoughts go out to all involved in this process."
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