WALLSEND (AUSTRALIA)
2NM AM 981 [Singleton, NSW, Australia]
February 12, 2026
By Cameron Smith
The High Court has found the Catholic Church legally responsible for the harm suffered by a 13‑year‑old boy who was sexually abused by a priest in Wallsend in the late 1960s. The case centred on Father Ronald Pickin, who worked at St Patrick’s Catholic Church and taught religious education at Wallsend High School.
The male victim told the court he and a friend were given alcohol and cigarettes by the priest before he was assaulted in the presbytery. A trial judge accepted the abuse occurred and initially awarded the survivor more than $630,000 in damages.
That decision was later overturned on appeal, following earlier High Court rulings that priests were not considered employees and therefore could not create vicarious liability for the Church. But the man’s lawyers argued the Diocese owed a non‑delegable duty of care to children under a priest’s supervision.
The High Court agreed, finding the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese had the capacity and responsibility to oversee clergy and prevent foreseeable harm. Judges ruled this duty extended to intentional criminal acts, including sexual abuse.
Father Ronald Pickin died in 2015 before the first hearing began.
The survivor’s compensation was reduced to $335,920, but the Church has been ordered to pay his legal costs. The ruling comes as states and territories consider new laws imposing vicarious liability on churches, schools, sporting clubs and volunteer organisations for abuse carried out by people in roles akin to employment.
Slater and Gordon’s Head of Abuse Law, Stephanie Brown, welcomed the ruling, saying it was a great day for victim-survivors.
“We are pleased for what this decision means for victim-survivors of historic institutional child abuse,” Ms Brown said.
“What the High Court has done is to ensure that institutions who have children in their care, control or supervision aren’t able to escape liability on a technical legal point.
“This decision also goes beyond victim-survivors of abuse within churches.
“It would apply to any institutional setting that holds a duty of care to children, such schools, foster care, and juvenile justice facilities.”