BishopAccountability.org
	Civil Action Starts over Sex Cases By Peter Hardwick The Chronicle May 4, 2010 http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2010/05/04/civil-action-starts-sex-cases-church-child-abuse/ TWO of five families suing the Toowoomba Diocese of the Catholic Church over child abuse by former primary school teacher Gerard Vincent Byrnes had matters mentioned before the court this week. It is believed a legal procedural dispute between the parties had brought the matters before the Supreme Court in Brisbane. However, solicitor Damian Scattini told The Chronicle yesterday that pre-hearing dispute had been resolved and no court action would follow this week. Mr Scattini, of Brisbane-based law firm Slater Gordon, said his firm was representing five families suing the Toowoomba Diocese arising from victims of child abuse at the hands of Byrnes. Byrnes, 60, who is in custody awaiting sentence, has pleaded guilty to 33 counts of indecently dealing with girls under 12, 10 counts of raping girls under 12 and one of maintaining a sexual relationship with a girl under 12. The offences involve 13 separate girls aged nine and 10, all students of Byrnes who was the school's child safety officer at the time. Byrnes is expected to next appear in Toowoomba District Court on June 18.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.