Former priest Robert Claffey jailed for 18 years for sexually abusing children

By Charlotte King
ABC News
October 4, 2016

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-04/former-ballarat-priest-robert-claffey-jailed-for-sexual-abuse/7900156

Robert Claffey was sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to 19 charges.

A former Ballarat priest has been jailed for more than 18 years for sexually abusing a dozen children in south-west Victoria over several decades.

Robert Claffey, 73, was sentenced today after earlier pleading guilty to 19 charges.

His charges related to sexual abuse in the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat, and involved boys and girls aged between five and 14.

Claffey served as a priest for 25 years in Ballarat, Warrnambool, Apollo Bay and Portland.

In sentencing, Judge Felicity Hampel told the court Claffey had acted with impunity, abusing his position of power in what she called a truly appalling litany of offences.

"The loss of faith in the church as an institution, its priests, bishops and cardinals and even for many of your victims and their families and God himself, is a direct consequence of your conduct, even if others share some responsibility," she said.

Victims broke down as the sentence was read out.

"Bob Claffey has taken a fair portion of everyone's lives sand he deserves to have a fair portion of his life taken from him," Frank Hampster said.

Andrew Collins said the Catholic Church should "hang its head in shame".

"This is a victory today for us victims, it has been a long time, it's affected all our lives and it's good to see this man finally get put away behind bars," he said.

"There's people who have taken their own lives that were abused by Bob Claffey and especially for them and their families, this is a victory for them as well.

"This is a victory for everybody out there that was abused by this monster."

Claffey will be eligible for parole in 13 years.