Abuse victims to benefit from estate of former Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns

ABC News
September 6, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-06/assets-from-bishop-mulkearns-to-be-given-to-victims/7818984

Mulkearns left nearly all of his estate to the Catholic diocese of Ballarat.

Real estate and cash left to the Catholic Church by a bishop blamed for the sexual abuse of hundreds of children in Ballarat, north-west of Melbourne, will be given to victims of abuse.

Ronald Mulkearns left nearly all of his estate, including a Fairhaven property valued at more than $2 million, to the Catholic diocese of Ballarat after his death his April.

He was accused of not properly handling complaints about abuse in his diocese, which he apologised for while testifying before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

In testimony he said he was not sure if he knew child abuse was a crime when he was in charge of the Ballarat diocese but he knew it was wrong.

In a statement, current bishop Paul Bird said he intended to set the money aside to help abuse victims.

"Whatever the diocese of Ballarat receives from Bishop Mulkearn's estate, I intend to set aside for the assistance to victims of abuse," he said.

"This will continue the support that the diocese has given to abuse victims over many years."

One of the victims, Andrew Collins, said he was surprised to learn Bishop Mulkearns left most of his assets to the church.

"The fact it is left to the church is an opportunity for the church to look at that figure and do something meaningful with it," he said.

Mr Collins said the money should be used to help victims and their families.

"I think that as Mulkearns essentially facilitated the abuse of victims by moving perpetrators around," he said.

"I'd like to see that money used to help victims and their families, especially those who have taken their own lives."