Popular Perth priest Father Joseph Tran takes own life after being confronted over child abuse claims

By Gabrielle Knowles, Nick Butterly And Rourke Walsh
West Australian
March 22, 2019

https://bit.ly/2CBJZup

Father Joseph Tran died suddenly on Thursday after being confronted by the alleged victim’s mother. Photo by Terence Boylen

St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Armadale where Father Tran was the parish priest.

A Catholic priest under investigation for the sexual abuse of a young girl is suspected to have taken his own life after being confronted by the child’s mother.

Popular and well-known parish priest Father Joseph Tran, pictured, who worked as a chaplain at several Catholic Perth schools, was found dead by police on Thursday.

WA Police confirmed to The Weekend West that it was the same day police had launched an investigation into an allegation of child sexual abuse by a priest from a southern suburbs Catholic Church.

Father Joseph was accused of abusing the girl, who is now 13, over several years. It is understood her mother confronted him this week after the alleged abuse came to light.

The 49-year-old had been the parish priest at Armadale’s St Francis Xavier for the past year after 15 years at Whitfords Parish.

The Archdiocese of Perth and the Catholic Education Office refused to comment on the abuse allegations or Father Tran’s death.