A DEFROCKED priest who occupies a prominent position in the Armidale community featured last night in a Four Corners expose of child sex abuse within the Catholic Church.
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The man, who was called "Father F" throughout the program due to a court order from 1987 that prevents the media from revealing his name, was shown with his face pixelated.
Four Corners reported that two former altar boys, Daniel Powell and Damian Jurd, brought complaints of sexual abuse against Father F and eventually received monetary compensation from the Church.
However, the priest was never formally convicted, and by the age of 28, both young men had taken their own lives.
The program alleged that despite clear evidence that Father F was molesting young boys in his care, the Church moved him from Moree to Parramatta, and failed to tell the police what they knew.
Peter Jurd, the brother of one of the victims, is now living in Armidale and studying law at the University of New England.
Interviewed by the Four Corners reporter, Geoff Thompson, he said the abuse had a devastating impact on his family, that continues to be felt to this day.
"Unholy Silence" can be viewed at www.abc.net.au/4corners, on ABC iView, and will be broadcast again tonight at 11.35pm.
* Full report in tomorrow's Express
