AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Kerrin Thomas
The Catholic Church’s response to allegations relating to a paedophile former priest from the state’s north will be investigated by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
John Joseph Farrell, 62, was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail earlier this year, after being found guilty of 79 child abuse offences against 12 victims.
The assaults were committed against boys and girls around Moree, Tamworth and Armidale in the 1970s and 80s.
The Royal Commission will now hold a public hearing in Sydney looking into the response of the Catholic Diocese of Armidale and the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta to the allegations of child sexual abuse made against Farrell.
It will also look at the response of the Special Issues Group for the Province of Sydney.
The brother of one of Farrell’s victims has welcomed the investigation.
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