AUSTRALIA
Canberra Times
Katie Burgess
Catholic parishioners in Tumut have leapt to the defence of their ex-priest who was stood down after an archdiocese investigation found he had touched a child inappropriately.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn admitted Father Brian Hassett had been the subject of “sustained complaints” during his time as the parish priest of Tumut.
A church investigation into the complaints began in 2013 and was overseen by the NSW Ombudsman.
Mr Hassett was temporarily moved to Lanigan House in early 2014, “in response to the preliminary findings of the investigation”, director of the Institute for Professional Standards Matt Casey said.
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