Catholic Clergy Abuse - General
Overview
Waller Legal has acted in claims against Catholic defendants since our beginning in 2007. Although our work commenced in Victoria, we now act in clergy abuse matters across Australia. We have helped our clients recover compensation for abuse by Catholic priests, brothers, nuns and lay people working within a Catholic institution.
We have negotiated compensation and assistance for close family members badly affected by the abuse of their loved one. These are known as “secondary victim claims”.
We are experienced in progressing these cases in various ways, including Supreme and County Court litigation, alternative dispute resolution (out of court discussions) and the Church’s own internal processes – either “Towards Healing” or the “Melbourne Response”.
Where we can show that a previous settlement was unfair, we have achieved a further “ex-gratia” payment of compensation for clients from some Catholic defendants.
We have successfully recovered compensation for clients in claims against many Catholic entities, including the:
- Christian Brothers
- Diocese of Ballarat
- Salesians of Don Bosco
- Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
- De La Salle Brothers
- Passionist Brothers
- Marist Brothers
- Marist Fathers (or the Society of Mary)
- Vincentians
- Redemptorists
- Jesuits
The Christian Brothers
We have recovered compensation for hundreds of clients abused at Christian Brother schools and orphanages in Victoria and throughout Australia.
Initially the majority of claims arose from schools in Ballarat, such as St Alipius and St Patrick’s College. These cases related to sexual predators such as Christian Brother Robert Charles Best, Ted Dowlan (now known as Ted Bales) and Leo Fitzgerald.
In more recent times we have acted and continue to act for a large number of clients who came to Australia as child migrants from the United Kingdom, Malta and other countries and who were then abused in Christian Brother run institutions in Western Australia, including Tardun, Bindoon, Clontarf and Castledare.
We have achieved compensation for former students of Parade College, St Leo’s Christian Brother College Box Hill, Therry College Broadmeadows (later known as Penola Catholic College) and other schools. We have also successfully obtained compensation for clients abused by lay teachers in Christian Brother schools.
We have also run many successful claims for former state wards abused at St Augustine’s Boys’ Home in Geelong and St Vincent Boys’ Home in South Melbourne. We have achieved compensation for clients abused in orphanages by various Christian Brothers including Brothers Eastmure, McGee, Hackett, Alford and Houston.
Top Ups
Where we are able to establish that a previously settled Christian Brother matter was resolved unfairly, or the Towards Healing process was flawed, we have been successful in obtaining a further “ex-gratia” payments for clients.
Secondary Victims
In some circumstances we can negotiate compensation and assistance for close family members badly affected by the abuse of their loved one. Secondary victims can include a parent, partner or child of the person abused.
The Diocese of Ballarat
The Diocese of Ballarat includes fifty-one parishes that cover the western third of Victoria, extending from the Murray River in the North to the Southern Ocean in the South.
We act for victims abused by clergy of The Diocese of Ballarat including people harmed by notorious convicted child sex offender Father Gerald Ridsdale.
We currently act in cases issued in the Supreme Court of Victoria against Bishop Ronald Austin Mulkearns, former Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat, on behalf survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by Ridsdale.
The Salesians of Don Bosco
We act for clients who were abused at Rupertswood Salesian College in Sunbury and St Joseph’s Regional College in Ferntree Gully.
Our clients’ claims relate to abuse by Father Frank Klep, Father Julian Fox, former Father David Rapson, Father Michael Aulsebrook and others.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
We have recovered compensation for victims abused at Monivae College in Hamilton by different members of the MSC including convicted child sex offender Brother Edward Mamo.
The De La Salle Brothers
We have recovered compensation for victims abused at different De La Salle run schools including at St Joseph’s primary school and De La Salle College in Malvern, Victoria.
Allegations have related to Brother Anselm (Tom Hallam) and Brother Ibar (Frank Keating).
The Marist Brothers
We act for clients who were abused by different members of the Marist Brothers including convicted sex offender Brother Gerard McNamara.
Victims fear alleged 'cover-up' of sexual abuse will not be revealed - Gregg Borschmann, aired on Radio National Breakfast, 5 April 2016
If you wish to investigate a potential civil claim against a Catholic organisation, please call us on 03 9415 9999 to have a confidential discussion about your options.