Sex abuse royal commission to wind down public hearings

By Rachel Browne
Sydney Morning Herald
September 12, 2016

http://www.smh.com.au/national/sex-abuse-royal-commission-to-wind-down-public-hearings-20160911-gre1xj.html

John Joseph Farrell during a hearing at Armidale Court. Photo by Barry Smith

The long-running child sexual abuse royal commission has indicated the number of public hearings will slow down with the final case study to be heard in March next year.

Chairman of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse Peter McClellan​ announced public hearings would be drawing to a close in his remarks ahead of an inquiry into convicted paedophile priest John Joseph Farrell.

Justice McClellan told the Sydney hearing that the inquiry into Farrell would be the last dealing with Catholic institutions.

"After the present case study has been completed the commission will turn its attention in a public hearing to harmful sexual behaviours of children within schools," he said.

"There may be a limited number of future case studies."

The commission heard the final case study is expected to be heard in March, examining the cause and impact of child sexual abuse.

The royal commission has received information about more than 4000 institutions since it started in 2013.

It has heard from 5866 survivors of child sexual abuse in private sessions, with a further 1616 people awaiting their session. Registrations for private sessions will close at the end of September.

Justice McClellan told the hearing that 62 per cent of people who appeared in private sessions were abused in faith-based organisations while 27 per cent were abused in government-run institutions.

The commission was told abuse in Catholic institutions was reported by 40 per cent of people in private sessions, followed by the Anglican church (8 per cent) and the Salvation Army (4 per cent).

Faith-based organisations have comprised 63 per cent of the institutions examined in public hearings, the commission heard.

Justice McClellan said the royal commission has referred 1659 matters to the police to consider "for further investigation with a view to prosecution." So far, 71 people have been prosecuted.

The hearing into John Joseph Farrell, who is currently serving a minimum 18 year jail term after being convicted of 79 child sex offences in May, is expected to run for two weeks.

Fresh charges were brought against Farrell, 63, last week with a trial set down for April next year.