"We Didn't Share Boys"

By Adam Langenberg
The Advocate
January 28, 2016

http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3694031/we-didnt-share-boys/

Louis Daniels

TWO convicted child sex offenders told a royal commission they denied sharing boys or that there was a paedophile ring inside the Anglican Church.

Former Anglican priests Garth Hawkins and Louis Daniels told the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse they did not discuss their predilection for young boys with other priests.

Former Burnie Archdeacon Daniels, who has been convicted of sexual offences against 11 boys, said he had suspected some priests were attracted to young men or had behaved inappropriately, but didn't see or hear anything to substantiate it.

Hawkins, who was convicted of sexual abuse against seven boys, said he was "absolutely not" involved in sharing of boys with other priests, and did not tell other priests about particularly vulnerable boys.

He legally changed his name to Robin Goodfellow in 2009.

A victim of child sexual abuse told the inquiry two Anglican priests known to Daniels sexually abused him a short time after Daniels had sexually assaulted him.

Daniels has been convicted of maintaining a sexual relationship with the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

"I found it strange that two priests who knew Daniels both gravitated to me at the same time," the victim said. "I believe they knew what Daniels did and that is why they picked me.

Hawkins told the inquiry he once confronted Daniels at Hawkins' East Devonport rectory in 1980 when he found him "chatting up a boy at the toilet".

He said he told Daniels to leave the boy, identified as BYF, alone.

Daniels said he had no memory of the incident.

"It's not the sort of thing I was accustomed to doing," he said.

BYF told the inquiry on Thursday that he had been at the urinal and Daniels blocked his path and grabbed at his genitals when he went to leave the toilet.

Daniels said he was rebuked by Bishop Henry Jerrim in 1980 for behaving inappropriately towards a boy. He said he "probably" gave assurances he would not behave in that way again.

Daniels was spoken to by Bishop Philip Newell in 1987 after he was made aware of allegations Daniels had behaved inappropriately towards two boys.

Under questioning from Bishop Newell's legal counsel Neil Clelland, QC, he accepted he enjoyed the bishop's trust at the time, and agreed Bishop Newell was "visibly distressed" when speaking to Daniels about the allegations.

Daniels said he agreed to cease all involvement with the Church of England Boys Society and his role as the youth and education officer for the church in Tasmania

Daniels said he believed Bishop Newell was reluctant to move him from Deloraine to Burnie in 1988 after he was recommended by others.

Daniels resigned from the church in 1994 after a complaint about sexual abuse was made to police.