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Perth’s Catholic Church has been ordered by a court to pay a staggering $2.45 million to the victim of a paedophile priest – the highest known sum the Church in Australia has been forced to pay a survivor of historic sex abuse.

The landmark judgement was approved by District Court judge last week after the man, now aged in his 50s, was forced to recount the horrific experiences at the hands of former Bunbury priest Father Bertram Adderley.

After listening to his harrowing testimony on the first day of the civil trial, Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe caved in and through his lawyers consented to the record-breaking award.

Read the full article on The West Australian.

Although it was 7 months ago that I received the compensation payment, it is only now that I’m feeling the real benefits. This is so unbelievably helpful and nothing I had expected in my life. Life feels very different for me right now. I can’t quite take it in, but I do know that I am grateful to you for the work done.