Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne Had 450 Child Sex Abuse Claims in 35 Years – Inquiry

By Melissa Davey
The Guardian
November 23, 2015

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/24/catholic-archdiocese-of-melbourne-had-450-child-sex-abuse-claims-in-35-years-inquiry

Counsel assisting the royal commission, Gail Furness: data shows Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne had 450 child sex abuse claims in 35 years. Photograph: Jeremy Piper

More than 450 people made claims and substantiated complaints of child sexual abuse against priests, religious employees and volunteers working within the Catholic archdiocese of Melbourne between January 1980 and February 2015, it has been revealed.

The child sexual abuse royal commission made the data public for the first time as its 35th case study began before Victoria’s county court on Tuesday, which is focusing on the conduct of eight priests within the archdiocese.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Gail Furness, said in her opening address the data was the result of a comprehensive survey of all Catholic church authorities in Australia.

The survey revealed that when taking into account treatment, legal and other costs, the church paid $16.8m to 316 of the 454 victims at an average of about $52,000 each claimant, either from a civil claim or through the Melbourne Response, which was the internal method of handling sexual abuse cases by the archdiocese.

Over the next two weeks in Melbourne, the commission’s hearings will focus on the conduct and abuse at the hands of priests Nazareno Fasciale, Kevin O’Donnell, Ronald Pickering, Wilfred Baker, Peter Searson, David Daniel, Desmond Gannon and Barry Robinson.

Data obtained by the commission shows that O’Donnell, who was the parish priest at Sacred Heart parish in Oakleigh between 1979 and 1991, had 56 complaints made against him between 1944 and 1990, the highest number of complaints of all the priests.

The first incident of abuse occurred in 1944, just two years after his ordination, when he was 28, Furness told the commission. All the complaints were made before his death.

The commission has previously heard that in 1995, O’Donnell was charged with 49 child sex offences. That same year he was jailed for 39 months. By November 1996, O’Donnell was released on parole. He died in 1997 and was buried a priest.

Furness told the commission it would hear evidence that Fasciale, ordained in 1952 at St Patrick’s cathedral in Melbourne, died in 1996 without charges against him ever being heard, despite the first claims against him being made in 1954.

The first incident of abuse allegedly occurred one year after his ordination, when he was 27. Furness said the commission would examine why there were delays in the criminal investigation despite 20 people making a claim of abuse against him, 17 of which were made before his death.

Searson had numerous complaints made against his conduct, Furness said. After being transferred to the Holy Family parish in Doveton in 1984, there were reports he had a handgun at school, showed a body in a coffin to children, and engaged in sexualised conduct with children.

Although Searson was interviewed by senior church officials about his conduct and admitted to his behaviour, he denied any untoward intention, Furness said. He was also accused of physically abusing and making sexual advances towards children.

Meanwhile Baker, who had 21 complaints made against him, was placed on administrative leave in 1997 by then archbishop, now cardinal, George Pell. The Catholic Education Office received complaints about Baker’s behaviour towards children before this leave was granted, the commission heard.

The first witness to give evidence on Tuesday will be a former priest, Philip O’Donnell, who has previously accused the church of covering up allegations of abuse. Evidence will also be heard from survivors of sexual abuse.

The hearing continues.