Australian High Court rules Catholic Diocese of Ballarat not liable for priest's sexual abuse.

The Australian High Court ruled that the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat is not liable for the sexual abuse of a young boy by a priest, overturning a previous state court decision. The High Court found that the priest was not an employee of the church, thus the diocese could not be held responsible. The victim, identified as DP, alleged abuse by Father Bryan Coffey in 1971 and sought over $1.5 million in damages for lost earnings.

November 13, 2024
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