Hunter Catholic priest David O'Hearn sentenced to more than five years over child sex offences

By Michelle Brown
ABC News
August 22, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-22/hunter-catholic-priest-david-ohearn-sentenced-over-child-sex/7771798

A Catholic priest who sexually assaulted boys during wrestling bouts has been sentenced to a minimum of five years and four months in jail after being convicted of 44 child sex offences against six victims.

Priest David O'Hearn committed the assaults in the Hunter region while working as a trainee priest and priest in parishes including Cessnock, Muswellbrook and Windale in the 1980s and 90s.

O'Hearn, who is already in jail, was sentenced to 18 years and three months for the offences to be served from the December 18, 2012.

With time served, he will be eligible for release on parole on the February 17, 2022.

The crimes committed against the boys, aged between 10 and 15, included sexual intercourse, indecent assault and inciting a minor to commit an indecent act.

O'Hearn ran sports training, youth groups and counselled troubled boys as a cover for his criminal activities.

Many of the sexual assaults happened during wrestling bouts.

O'Hearn would join in with the boys as a combatant, become turned on and then sexually assault them.

He told a number of his victims not to tell anyone and that they would not be believed if they did.

After making a 10-year-old boy perform oral sex on him, the priest said "our little secret has become a big secret".

In sentencing the 55-year-old, District Court Judge Richard Cogswell said O'Hearn's public profile was that of a popular, respected and trusted member of the community.

In contrast, O'Hearn's private profile showed "calculated, predatory, persistent and manipulative criminal behaviour over several years".

In an incident known as the "saddle story", O'Hearn told a boy's parents the child had complained that his father had put a saddle on him and ridden him around the yard.

Judge Cogswell said the story was concocted by O'Hearn in a bid to poison the parents' opinion of their son, so they would be less inclined to believe him if he complained about being sexually abused.

Victims told the court the abuse had damaged their lives irrevocably — one even attempted suicide.

A victim whose name cannot be used for legal reasons said "my life would have been a lot better had David O'Hearn not entered it".

The victims said they have lived with depression, anger, troubled relationships, poor employment records and drug and alcohol dependency because of O'Hearn's abuse.

One of O'Hearn's victims said he was relieved the case had finally come to an end.

"Judge Cogswell has given a sentence which I think is sufficient for the crimes committed against myself and other survivors many years ago," the victim said.

He said the sentence would empower other victims of child sexual abuse to seek justice.

"There's always going to be other survivors out there that have to overcome their own battles in relation to their emotional trauma that they've suffered.

"As we know ... with anything to do with child abuse it is so difficult — it becomes so many years past and then people end up with problems, with drugs, alcohol, work, life relationships.

"It's relieving to finally see David O'Hearn sentenced here today and get his just deserts."