Personal Injury

Fresh allegations have emerged in Tasmania that connect one of the state’s most senior Catholic leaders of the 20th century, Archbishop Guilford Young, to failures in preventing abuse carried out by notorious offender Paul Ronald Goldsmith. The case has reignited painful memories for Survivors and drawn renewed attention to how institutions responded when concerns were raised about clergy and staff in Catholic schools.

Who was Paul Goldsmith?

Paul Goldsmith was a former trainee priest who never proceeded to ordination. Instead, he gained access to children as an athletics coach, most prominently at Marist Regional College in Burnie during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2005, he pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Tasmania to multiple counts of sexual offences against boys aged 13 to 16. His crimes included indecent assault, unlawful sexual intercourse and maintaining sexual relationships with children. He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, with parole eligibility after four years.

Goldsmith was released in 2009 and later left Australia for Africa after completing his parole. Despite calls for tighter supervision, he was able to live overseas until his death in 2016. By that time, more than 20 boys had been recognised as Survivors of his abuse.

New Allegations About Archbishop Young

Archbishop Guilford Young served as Catholic Archbishop of Hobart from 1955 until his death in 1988. A new legal claim has alleged that as early as 1969 Archbishop Young was made aware of complaints about Goldsmith’s behaviour when he was still in training for the priesthood. According to the claim, Young determined that Goldsmith was unsuitable for ordination but did not disclose these concerns when Goldsmith was later appointed to work with children at Marist Regional College in 1976.

The argument being put forward is that, as the senior leader of the Catholic Church in Tasmania at the time, Archbishop Young had the authority and duty to act on this information, and his failure to do so amounted to negligence.

Supreme Court Decision

In 2025, the Supreme Court of Tasmania considered an application to amend pleadings in ongoing litigation against the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart and Marist Regional College. The amendments sought to include Archbishop Young’s alleged inaction as part of the claim. The Court declined to allow the changes, finding that the proposed liability was not sufficiently set out. As a result, Archbishop Young himself cannot be sued, and neither the Archdiocese nor Marist Regional College will face direct liability in relation to his alleged knowledge.

Nevertheless, the case underscores the long shadow cast by historic abuse and the ongoing attempts by Survivors to hold institutions accountable for both individual crimes and systemic failures to act on warnings.

Institutional Context

The Catholic Church in Tasmania, like elsewhere in Australia, has faced searching questions about how allegations of child sexual abuse were managed. During the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, patterns of concealment, inadequate record-keeping, and prioritisation of reputational protection over child safety were repeatedly documented. Goldsmith’s case fits within this broader history, where concerns were raised but not effectively addressed, leaving children vulnerable.

Moving Forward

While Archbishop Young cannot be sued under Tasmanian law due to his death, institutions such as the Catholic Church can still be held responsible for systemic failures. Survivors and their supporters continue to push for recognition, accountability, and redress. The ongoing litigation concerning Goldsmith shows both the challenges Survivors face in navigating legal hurdles and their determination to ensure the truth is acknowledged.

If you or someone you know has information about historical abuse connected with Catholic schools or clergy in Tasmania, your perspective could help support ongoing efforts for justice. All information provided will be treated with confidentiality.

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