Armidale Catholic Priest John Joseph Farrell Charged with Child Sexual Abuse
By Andy Park
Former Armidale Catholic priest John Joseph Farrell has been charged with nine counts of child sexual abuse. The charges relate to alleged assaults against two boys, one at Gunnedah in 1975, about 85 kilometres west of Tamworth in northern New South Wales, and the other at Narrabri in 1983, about 175 kilometres north-west of Tamworth. Farrell, 62, was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, four counts of indecent assault, and buggery. Some of the ex-officio indictments were first laid 28 years ago, but the magistrate dismissed the account of one of the alleged victims, Damian Jurd, in favour of Farrell at a committal hearing. Mr Jurd later took his own life. PHOTO: The mother of one of Farrell's alleged victims, Damian Jurd, says she is "ecstatic". (Supplied: Claire Jurd)
His mother, Claire Jurd, told 7.30 she was in shock at the news Farrell will again face the allegations. "We are ecstatic. We had given up hope," Ms Jurd said. The church's management of Farrell, case study 44, will be investigated by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse over two weeks, starting on Monday. The criminal case will go to trial from April 10, 2017 at Sydney District Court. A NSW Police statement said the charges were laid following investigations from Strike Force Glenroe detectives. "Investigations are ongoing," a NSW Police statement said. The strike force was formed in July 2012 to investigate alleged historical child sexual assault offences committed by a former priest. The strike force includes detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad and the New England and Barwon local area commands.
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