Paedophile Priest John Denham Pleads Guilty

By Joanne Mccarthy
Newcastle Herald
August 1, 2013

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1678589/paedophile-priest-john-denham-pleads-guilty/?cs=303

ONE of Australia's worst paedophile priests pleaded guilty yesterday to multiple child sex offences at a Hunter Catholic school as victims' statements reduced people to tears at a historic inquiry into child sexual abuse.

John Sidney Denham, 70, pleaded guilty to 25 child sex charges involving 18 boys at Singleton, Wingham and St Pius X School, Adamstown, in the 1970s, and accepted another 23 indecent assault charges had occurred.

The 25 offences, including buggery, forced oral sex and indecent assault, were committed against boys aged 11, 12 and 13.

The guilty pleas came three years after Denham pleaded guilty to crimes against 39 boys in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, and 13 years after his first child sex conviction.

Denham's reign of terror eventually drew 111 charges from about 60 victims.

Yesterday's guilty pleas came one year after the suicide of John Pirona, 45, of Belmont North - the catalyst for the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry in Newcastle and the federal Royal Commission.

"I feel complete hatred for him," said Mr Pirona's widow, Tracey, of Denham yesterday.

Victims' statements read to the state inquiry on its final public hearing day yesterday reduced some to tears.