AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
Joanne McCarthy
May 23, 2016
I WAS in the foyer of Sydney’s Downing Centre Court after a day of evidence in one of the child sex trials against Catholic priest David O’Hearn.
There have been so many trials, re-trials and hearings since he was first stood down in May 2008 that I can’t remember exactly which one it was.
I didn’t pay much attention to a group across the foyer until their conversation became animated.
Suddenly a woman walked quickly towards me. She was upset. I asked if she was okay. She asked if I would walk with her out of the court because the people she had been talking to would still be outside. She didn’t want to face them again on her own.
They were supporters of O’Hearn. She had been friendly with the priest, but was shocked after hearing evidence of his crimes. There were heated words after she said she believed the victims.
I walked her out. There was a group outside the court but no one said a word. They just glared.
The case of David O’Hearn has highlighted why we needed a Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He is in jail awaiting sentence after separate juries found him guilty of 44 child sex offences against six victims, but the cost to the community including victims, their families, O’Hearn’s supporters and the justice system has been extraordinary.
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