AUSTRALIA
The Canberra Times
Katie Burgess
The barrister contracted to independently review the Canberra-Goulburn Catholic Archdiocese’s decision to place a disgraced priest next to two Canberra primary schools has quit.
Sydney barrister Jane Seymour had been brought on to scrutinise the breakdown in communication that led Father Brian Hassett, a priest with substantiated complaints of improper conduct towards children, to be housed next to Sts Peter and Paul Primary School and Malkara School without either principals being told of his background.
But Ms Seymour handed back the brief several weeks ago to take up a role with the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, The Canberra Times has learnt.
A spokeswoman from the archdiocese confirmed Ms Seymour was no longer conducting the review and had been replaced by another Sydney barrister, Juliet Lucy.
“As per the brief given to Jane, and subsequently Juliet, the timeline is for the review to be finalised by the end of May. The archbishop will then respond to the report by the end of June,” the spokeswoman said.
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