Royal Commission to Examine Father F Abuse Cases

By Breanna Chillingworth
Armidale Express
July 6, 2016

http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/4014798/royal-commission-to-examine-farrell-abuse/

THE Royal Commission will hold a public hearing into the Catholic Church's handling of child sexual abuse allegations against paedophile priest John Joseph Farrell.

Farrell, or Father F as he was known, is one of the state's most notorious paedophile priests and is currently serving 29 years jail for 79 offences after preying on young children while he was a Catholic priest in Moree, Tamworth and Armidale.

On Wednesday, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse announced it would hold a public hearing into how the Catholic Church responded to the allegations when they were first raised.

The public hearing will be held in Sydney on September 12 and will examine how authorities in the Catholic Diocese of Armidale and the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta dealt with the allegations made against the now-defrocked priest.

The Bishop of Armidale Michael Kennedy issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the public hearing.

"The Diocese of Armidale will fully cooperate in any way required in relation to this hearing," Bishop Kennedy said.

"All Diocesan files and records have already been provided to the Royal Commission."

Farrell was a serving priest when he sexually abused nine young altar boys and three girls between 1979 and 1988 in Moree, Armidale and Tamworth. Farrell committed 27 acts of sexual assault, 48 acts of indecent assault and four acts of indecency, and in May, was jailed for a minimum of 18 years.

In sentencing, Judge Paul Zahra said Farrell had exploited his position as a priest, and "disregarded and took advantage of the vulnerability of the child victims".

Farrell was not suspended from public ministry until 1992. He will be eligible for parole in June, 2033.

Bishop Kennedy acknowledged the Royal Commission could be a "difficult time" for victims, and parishioners, and urged anyone feeling vulnerable to contact the Commission or a counsellor for help.

"At this time the victims of Farrell's abuse are uppermost in my thoughts and prayers," he said.

"These victims have suffered greatly over many years, and while it is very likely this public hearing will be a difficult time for his victims, I hope that it will also be a time of continued healing for them as a light is again shone on the dreadful wrongs committed by John Farrell and the way the Church let victims down.

"I am mindful that, even if not directly affected, parishioners, students, parents, clergy, religious, staff and volunteers, may be disturbed by what is reported during the public hearings."

The Commission will also look at the response of the Special Issues Group for the Province of Sydney to allegations of child sexual abuse against Farrell, as well as any related matters.

The Commission has urged interested individuals or institutions to submit applications for leave to appear at the hearing by early-August.