Cameron Tully Jailed for 14 Years for Child Sexual Offences
By Elizabeth Byrne
A man who sexually abused eight young girls who attended his family's home church in Canberra has been jailed for 14 years. Cameron Flynn Tully, 40, was found guilty of 18 counts of sexual assault, ranging from rape to acts on indecency, after a trial in June. Sentencing Tully, Justice John Burns described the abuse as "brazen, revealing an arrogant belief that your victims would not report the crimes, and if they did would not be believed". The crimes were committed in the 1990s and early 2000s at his family's farm in Cook where he would mind the children of people attending meetings, including home church. Justice Burns said it was clear the abuse was a pattern of behaviour that continued over about 10 years and was not a single isolated event. He told the court Tully had used minding the children and his "apparent good character" to gain access to the victims, abusing his position of authority over them. "I am satisfied you were trusted by the families of the girls," he said. Great and lasting harm done to victims: Justice Burns Justice Burns said the women involved had spoken about the long-term impacts the abuse had on them and their families, describing grief, continuing nightmares, stress and anxiety. "One said your crime had affected her relationships with her family and she could no longer trust men, even ones she loved," he said. "Another said she had been left feeling damaged, broken and used and was unable to tell anyone for years. "She clearly blamed herself." He said it was clear Tully's crimes had done "great and lasting harm" to the victims and their families. Justice Burns said a pre-sentencing report showed Tully continued to deny the abuse and had shown no remorse. "You said you believed your victims may have been motivated by a desire to besmirch you and your family's good name," he said. Justice Burns said a psychiatrist had suggested a sex offenders program, for those who deny or minimise their crimes, would be appropriate for him. Outside the court Tully's wife Kathleen expressed her disappointment at the sentence. "I'm devastated at the outcome of this trial. The conviction of Cameron is a miscarriage of justice," she said. A representative of the victims, Neil Abraham, said the sentence was fair. "The jury heard all the evidence. It was very, very clear. They believed the victims. Thank god for that," he said. Tully will be eligible for parole after nine years.
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