Pell Appeal
The Victorian Court of Appeal has today upheld on appeal Cardinal George Pell’s convictions for sexually abusing two then 13-year-old boys. Cardinal George Pell's appeal failed. On 11 December 2018, Cardinal George Pell was convicted unanimously by a jury of 12 men and women in the County Court of Victoria of five charges of sexual offending against two young choir boys in 1996 at St...
If you signed a Deed, is it always binding?
To Victims of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse: If you signed a Deed, is it always binding? Not always. We are repeatedly hearing stories of victims of childhood institutional abuse who over the years have received paltry payouts from their abusers after signing a Deed, declaring that they will no longer pursue the institution for further claims, and entering into a non-disclosure agreement. In many circumstances these...
Clergy is not Above the Law
The Clergy is not Above the Law: The Pope Introduces Mandatory Reporting for Allegations of Sexual Assault and Child Abuse In February 2019, Pope Francis announced that he would mandate the reporting of sexual assault and child abuse by the clergy and church officials. Pope Francis released an Apostolic Letter which reads, “The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage...
South Australian School Teacher Jailed
Former South Australian School Teacher Jailed for Abusing Students Stephen John Hamra, a former primary school teacher at St Ignatius College and Christian Brothers College in South Australia has been found guilty of persistent sexual exploitation of a child and maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child between 1977 and 1982. He was sentenced by Adelaide District Court Judge Paul Rice on the 4 April...
Paedophilia in Private Schools
To read the original article published in The SMH and written by Peter FitzSimons, please click here. Is paedophilia more prevalent in private schools? Recently a number of our clients spoke to Peter FitzSimons about the abuse they say they suffered at the hands of Knox teachers. As a matter of fact paedophilia in private religious schools has been an ongoing issue for some time. Correspondingly...
Knox Grammar Sued for Child Sexual Abuse
To read the original article published in The Australian newspaper and written by Olivia Caisley, please click here. Knox Faces Payout Claim Our client, Phillip Ashworth, spoke to The Australian about what he asserts happened to him as a student at Knox Grammar. Phillip’s statement of claim alleges: "Nisbett used his position of authority to groom Mr Ashworth by regularly spending “private time” with him when he was...
Mosman Swim Teacher – Sexual Abuse
Mosman Swim Teacher - Alleged Child Sex Abuse In this case the Sydney swim instructor Kyle James Henk Daniels, twenty (20) years old, has now had an additional twenty-eight (28) charges of sexual abuse laid against him in court. This has been a result of sexual abuse allegations made by students at the Mosman Swim Centre located on Vista Street in the prestigious suburb of Mosman in Sydney. The...
