AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By JOANNE McCARTHY Sept. 15, 2013
HE buried a son in August last year and became the dignified grieving father who called for a royal commission.
One year later retired Newcastle solicitor Louis Pirona still grieves, but the royal commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse holding its first public hearings in Sydney on Monday acknowledges his son’s life and death mattered.
‘‘It honours people like John who are part of that tragic cohort of victims of child sexual abuse, where so many have taken their lives,’’ Mr Pirona said.
‘‘If John was here he would be pleased to know he played a significant part in it coming to pass.’’
John Pirona, 43, father of two and NSW Fire Brigade officer, committed suicide in July last year after ‘‘Too much pain’’ from sexual abuse by notorious paedophile priest John Denham.
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