Landmark high court ruling finds Catholic church had duty to protect NSW child from paedophile priest

The Catholic church previously argued it owed no duty of care because there was no evidence it knew of risks posed by priests at that time. It also argued it could not be held liable for intentional criminal acts committed by its priests. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The high court has delivered a landmark win for survivors of clergy abuse, finding the Catholic church had a duty of care to protect a child from one of its paedophile priests.

A man known only as AA sued the Catholic church’s Newcastle and Maitland diocese over abuse he suffered at the hands of Father Ron Pickin in 1969, when he was aged just 13.