Father Brian Conaghan (Marist Fathers)

Father Brian Conaghan (born 12 November 1931 and died 2 July 2018), was a former priest of the Marist Fathers who was ordained in 1956 at St Patrick’s Church in Toongabbie, NSW.

Father Conaghan worked at various parishes and churches under the Marist Fathers and worked “on loan to the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney” during his career as a priest. 

Amongst his many placements, Father Conaghan also taught and served as parish priest in Burnie, Tasmania. He allegedly sexually abused at least 5 girls between the period 1968 to 1971.  These allegations of sexual abuse occurred in the context of after-school prayer group sessions inside the Star of the Sea Church in Burnie, Tasmania.  At least one of the victims was a student of Stella Maris Primary School and the abuse occurred when she was 10 to 12 years old.

It is known that Father Conaghan served in the following parishes:

• Curate in Redcliffe, WA between (1957 and 1960);

• Teaching at Burnie College (1963);

• Parish Priest or Assistant at Burnie (between 1964 and 1979);

• Chaplain at Royal North Shore Hospital (between 1982 and 1984);

• Parish Priest or Assistant at St Patrick’s, Hunters Hill and St John’s Wood (between 1964 and 1979);  

• Liverpool and Bondi Parishes, Sydney (between 1980 and 1996). 

Moody Law has represented a number of victims of child sexual abuse in claims for compensation against the Marist Fathers. We invite former victims of Father Conaghan to contact us to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

Call us or complete the confidential enquiry form below.