Church Was Prepared to Pay for Pedophile Priest's Headstone

Morning Bulletin
April 19, 2015

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/day-5-royal-commission-hearing-underway-fr-heenan/2611855/


The former Bishop of Rockhampton has apologised for the way he and the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton acted when allegations of child sex abuse were made in the early 1990s.

Bishop Heenan has given his evidence to the commission and has stepped down from the stand.

UPDATE 11.10AM: The Royal Commission has heard the Diocese of Rockhampton would have been prepared to pay for Fr Reginald Durham's headstone after he died.

It's not known if the church played any part in commissioning the headstone.

The solicitor for witness AYB submitted two photographs of Fr Durham's headstone. One inscription in the area around Fr Durham's burial site reads "made up a royal priesthood to serve God.

9:30 AM: DAY FIVE of the Royal Commission hearing into child sex abuse at Neerkol Orphanage gets underway today with ex-bishop Brian Heenan continuing his evidence.

The commission last week heard how Fr Heenan wrote a positive character reference for his former priest Reginald Durham (deceased), when he was convicted of child sexual abuse offences.

We will update you with more information as it comes to hand.