Tears for Judge As Victim Tells of Sex Abuse by Catholic Priest

By Paul Anderson
The Perth Now
October 16, 2013

www.perthnow.com.au/news/tears-for-judge-as-victim-tells-of-sex-abuse-by-catholic-priest/story-e6frg12c-1226741091704

AN experienced judge wiped away tears in court today as the victim of a sexually depraved Catholic priest explained how being sexually abused by a trusted church figure had devastated his life.

In an eloquent and moving victim statement read to the County Court, the victim, now a businessman aged in his early 50s, laid bare the full impact of sexual abuse.

His account moved Judge Felicity Hampel, who reached for a tissue and wiped away apparent tears.

The victim, who cannot be identified, read his statement to the court via video link from a separate room during the plea hearing of former southeast suburban parish priest Russell Robert Walker.

Walker, aged between 27 and 31 at the time of his repeated offending, abused two boys over a four-year period in the 1970s - despite an archbishop being warned about him.

He was also confronted by accusatory parents, only to reply: "How dare you accuse me of sleeping with your son."

The victim who read from his statement, said he was vulnerable and groomed by Walker, a man who made him feel special.

He said he was forever afraid of people learning about his "dark secret".

"I was a child who should have been protected," he said.

"I don't know how to explain the depths of my pain. I grieve for the loss of my innocence. I grieve for the man I should have become. I grieve for the husband I should be. I grieve for the father I should be."

He explained how he suffered physically and psychologically and self-medicated to "dull the pain".

The victim told the court he still relied on medication and psychiatric help.

"I wish this never happened to me," he said.

"I know I'm not the only one this has happened to, but this is my story."

The victim was an altar boy aged 14 when Walker, an assistant priest in charge of youthful parishioners, started to sexually abuse him.

Walker was also sexually abusing another 14-year-old altar boy at the time.

Prosecutor Sally Flynn told the court that Walker, ordained in 1975, worked as assistant priest at the southern parish for three years before moving to another one.

She said he plied one of his victims with alcohol on one occasion. The repeated sexual abuse happened in Walker's room in the presbytery, on a beach, at a church-organised camp and at a motel.

Walker was arrested after one of his victims went to the police in November 2011.

He has pleaded guilty to representative counts of indecent assault relating to multiple offences.

Ms Flynn said Walker preyed upon vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification and committed a profound breach of trust by abusing his position of authority as a priest.

She called for an immediate term of imprisonment.

Defence barrister Tony Burns said his client was remorseful, and while vague about the crimes Walker did not want the victims' accusations to be challenged as they had suffered enough.

Judge Hampel remanded Walker, now aged 64, in custody to be sentenced on November 12.