Father Daniel Hourigan

Father Dan Hourigan was born on 25 June 1930 and attended school in Traralgon, eastern Victoria. After completing secondary school, Father Hourigan became a qualified teacher, then worked for a decade as a missionary and teacher in Papua New Guinea. He returned to Australia around 1960 and worked as a high school teacher, before travelling to South America in 1969, where he was an envoy for a Catholic organisation called the Legion of Mary.

In the early 1970s he was recruited for the priesthood in the Diocese of Sale in Victoria but completed his training at St Paul's Seminary in Sydney. He completed his training in four years and was ordained in 1976, aged 46. He eventually served in the following parishes within the Diocese of Sale:

  • Maffra and Warragul in the late 1970s;

  • Leongatha, Sale, Omeo, and Neerim South in the 1980s; and

  • Orbost in 1988-1993.

In proceedings against the Diocese of Sale in 2020, it has been shown that Father Hourigan whilst he was a teacher at two different boarding schools in Papua New Guinea had been accused of physical and sexual abuse on three separate occasions. Furthermore, research online shows that on 15 September 1995, detectives in the State of Victoria charged Hourigan with one incident of sexual penetration of a boy and were preparing to lay further charges relating to three other boys. However, Victoria Police were not able to proceed with the other charges against Father Hourigan, as he suddenly died at the age of 65, on 18 September.

The Royal Commission’s Final Report also showed ten people made claims between 1993 and 2015 to the Diocese of Sale relating to allegations of sexual abuse by Father Hourigan between 1968 and 1989. This included two people who made claims that they were abused between 1986 and 1989. Unfortunately, the Diocese of Sale knew of the propensity for Father Hourigan to reoffend but continued to protect and retain his services.

Moody Law has in the past represented clients who were sexually abused within the Catholic Diocese of Sale.

We invite former victims of Father Hourigan 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.