Father Richard Doyle

Father Richard Doyle was a former parish who predominantly served within the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. District court records show that Father Doyle was born in May 1936 in East Perth and was ordained as a priest in 1961. It is reported that Father Doyle had served at the following institutions/locations:

• Bruce Rock - parish priest (1971 to 1973);

• Aquinas College - Chaplain (1973 to 1976);

• Brentwood - parish priest (1976 to 1981); and

• Willetton - parish priest (1981).

It is reported online that internal assessment conducted in 2000 by the Archbishop of Perth - Barry Hickey - rejected recommendations to move Father Doyle to a ministry without a school due to allegations made against him and who was deemed to be attracted to young girls.

In 2006, Father Doyle retired from the ministry.

In 2021, Father Doyle was charged and indicted on six counts of unlawful and indecent dealing contrary to s 183 of the Criminal Code (WA), for offences said to have been committed against a young girl when she was between 6 and 10 years old. The alleged abuse was said to have been committed between 1 November 1979 and 10 February 1981 when Father Doyle would visit the young girl’s family home uninvited and who would often stay for dinner.

Father Doyle pleaded not guilty to all six charges.

In 2022, Father Doyle was found guilty by a judge alone trial on four of the six charges. He was sentenced to four years jail with eligibility for parole after two years.

Moody Law has in the past and is still representing clients who have made allegations of sexual and physical abuse against clergy members belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.

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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