AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Charlotte King
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.
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