Bishop Gerard Hanna to give evidence at Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

The commission, chaired by Justice Peter McClellan, has turned its attention this week to the activities of defrocked Catholic priest John Joseph Farrell.

Farrell, 63, was found guilty in May of 79 child abuse offences against 12 victims, and last week was charged with fresh offences for which he is expected to stand trial in April next year.

In her opening address to the commission in Sydney on Monday, senior counsel assisting, Gail Furness, said Farrell’s offences first came to light in 1984 when he was a priest at Moree in the Armidale Diocese.

The commission is examining how the diocese, and the Diocese of Parramatta where Farrell also served as a priest, responded to claims of inappropriate behaviour against him.

In 1984, Farrell was appointed to the St Nicholas parish in Tamworth.

Bishop Hanna, who served in the Armidale Diocese for 34 years, was parish priest at St Nicholas’ at the time.

He also served as vicar-general of the diocese.

It is not known when Bishop Hanna will be called to give evidence, but he is in Sydney waiting to be called.

Bishop Hanna’s request for early retirement as bishop was accepted this week by Pope Francis.

Bishops normally retire when the reach the age of 75, but Bishop Hanna, who turns 75 on December 22, asked to retire early because of continuing ill health.

The inquiry into Farrell will be the last by the commission dealing with Catholic organisations.

In his opening remarks on Monday, Justice McClellan said of the people who told the commission they had been abused, 62 per cent reported abuse in a faith-based institution.

“Abuse in Catholic institutions was reported by 40 per cent of all private session attendees, abuse in Anglican institutions by 8 per cent of attendees and abuse in Salvation Army institutions by 4 per cent of attendees,” Justice McClellan said.