Call for Royal Commission

Moree Champion
July 5, 2012

http://www.moreechampion.com.au/news/local/news/general/call-for-royal-commission/2614602.aspx

The Catholic Church has reopened inquiries into what was claimed as a cover-up of investigations into allegations of sexual abuse.

Known as Father F, the former priest was accused of sexually abusing young boys in Moree in the early 1980s.

Now living as a prominent member of the community in Armidale, Father F was arrested in 1987 and brought to trial but the matter was dismissed by a magistrate because he judged the alleged victim Damian Jurd, then 15, as a witness whose credibility did not match that of the priest.

Father F was allowed to continue as a priest in Parramatta where he allegedly molested more alter boys.

Reports of sexual assaults at Parramatta prompted a meeting between Father F and three senior priests in 1992.

A letter written by one of the senior priests eight days after the meeting describes Father F’s admissions in detail but two of the priests have denied ever hearing him admit his guilt.

In a court case in 2004 Father F admitted under oath what he had told the priests.

The court case involved another of Father F’s alleged victims, Daniel Powell, who was being prosecuted for attempting to extort money from the priest.

Both these victims have since committed suicide.

The matter was never brought to the attention of police or any relevant authorities and although he was banned from conducting Mass in 1992 Father F was not formally defrocked until 2005.

The saga has now intensified with calls for a Royal Commission.

The Catholic Church has issued a statement saying, “the Archdiocese of Sydney is seeking further information about the 1992 meeting”.

A spokeswoman for NSW Police said detectives would review the Four Corners story