Focus on clergy child abuse in Melbourne

FOCUS ON CATHOLIC CHURCH'S HANDLING OF ABUSE COMPLAINTS AGAINST PRIESTS OFFENDING MELBOURNE PRIESTS IN GENERAL

* Claims made to church about abuse of 335 children by priests

* Seven priests subject of more than 10 claims each

* Child abuse royal commission focusing on handling of complaints against the following eight priests

FR KEVIN O'DONNELL (deceased)

* Claims for abusing 56 children (made to Catholic Church)

* Occurred from 1944 (two years after ordination) to 1990

* Most abuse in Dandenong in 1950s and 1960s, and Oakleigh 1970s and 1980s

FR DESMOND GANNON

* Claims for abusing 25 children from 1954 to 1984

* Convicted five times 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2009 (some suspended)

* Priestly faculties removed 1993

FR WILFRED BAKER (deceased)

* Claims for abusing 21 children from 1960 to 1985

* Placed on administrative leave 1997

* Four-year jail term 1999 for abusing eight boys 1960-1979

* Laicised 2012

* Died 2014 awaiting trial for 1966-1979 offences against six male victims

FR NAZARENO FASCIALE (deceased)

* Claims for abusing 20 children from 1953 to 1985

* Admitted crimes to vicar general December 1993; allowed to resign for health reasons; faculties removed few months later

* Died March 1996 while awaiting trial

FR RONALD PICKERING (deceased)

* Claims for abusing 19 people from 1960 to 1989

* Never convicted

* Fled Australia to England 1993

* Faculties as priest removed 1994

FR DAVID DANIEL

* Claims for abusing seven children from 1972 to 1994

* Allowed to retire on health grounds 1995 after last complaint about him

* Six-year jail term 2000 for abusing four boys, 10-year-old girl and 25-year-old man between 1978 and 1994

* Priestly faculties removed 2000

FR PETER SEARSON (deceased)

* Claims for abusing four children from 1974 to 1985

* Never convicted of sex offences

* Put on administrative leave 1997 due to conduct over the years

* Released without conviction on six-month good behaviour bond in 1997 for hitting an altar boy

FR BARRY ROBINSON (deceased)

* Admitted to therapist 1994 molested a boy; Said had done so before but was not caught

* Faculties removed 1994

* No charges after criminal investigation

* Returned to ministry under conditions 1995.