Father David Joseph Perrett

David Joseph Perrett (b. 1937 - d. 2020) was a former Catholic Priest who served most of his religious life within the Catholic Diocese of Armidale in north-eastern New South Wales. It is reported that Father Perrett served at the following parishes:

• Walcha;

• St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish Moree;

• Guyra;

• Walgett;

• Boggabri; and

• Armidale Cathedral Parish.

Criminal Prosecutions

In 1996, Father Perrett appeared in the District Court in NSW and pleaded guilty to the indecent assault of three boys - two in Walgett and one in Guyra - where he was subsequently sentenced to a three year good behaviour bond.

In 2002, it was reported that further allegations were made against Father Perrett by a resident of Walgett. The allegations did not progress to court.

In 2019, Father Perrett was further charged with eight counts of maintaining unlawful relations with a child under s 66EA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). On the 1 November 2019, Father Perrett appeared within NSW District Court in Armidale and pleaded not guilty to 139 charges involving the assault, buggery, carnal knowledge, acts of indecency, and unlawful sexual relations with 37 boys and three girls between 1960s to the 1990s.

Father Perrett was scheduled to stand a jury trial in January 2021 but died in July 2020.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against clergy members of the Catholic Diocese of Armidale and is currently representing a client who has made allegations of sexual abuse against Father Perrett.

We invite former victims to tell us confidentially what information they may have, and we will explain what options are available to help with these cases.

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