Koffels Solicitors and Barristers

Rhode Island Priests Abused Hundreds of Children Over Decades, Report Finds

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/u...

One dead, 800 missing: The truth about NSW childcare revealed New data sheds light on the besieged sector, revealing the number of serious incidents in NSW childcare centres continued to increase year-on-year.

One dead, 800 missing: The truth about NSW childcare revealed

www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw...

US judges dismiss lawsuits accusing fantasy author of sexual assault in New Zealand Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand

US Federal judges have dismissed three lawsuits accusing British author Neil Gaiman of sexually assaulting his children's nanny in New Zealand

abcnews.com/Entertainmen...

eSafety: Major apps fail to detect child sex abuse online Eight major platforms are failing in their duty to detect and prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to the Australian internet watchdog’s latest transparency report.

Australia’s internet watchdog finds tech giants still failing to protect kids in latest transparency report

thewest.com.au/technology/a...

'Untenable': Roblox on notice after child grooming reports The government puts popular social gaming site Roblox on notice following media reports of children being approached and groomed by predators on the platform.

The government has written to popular online gaming site Roblox over reports of children being groomed and exposed to explicit content on the platform.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

High Court clears restrictions on suing over historical sexual abuse The country’s highest court has overturned a precedent that barred abuse victims from suing churches over crimes committed by people it did not formally employ.

The country’s highest court has cleared the way for a flood of compensation claims for historical sexual abuse, overturning a prohibition on churches being sued over the criminal actions of certain workers.

Man sexually abused by priest 'appalled' police weren't notified by church RNZ earlier revealed Fr Rowan Donoghue admitted six charges including indecent assault on a boy aged 12-16.

NZ Man sexually abused by priest 'appalled' police weren't notified by church

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

Top barrister and charity boss dead after child abuse arrest The 60-year-old was found dead at his Leichhardt unit in Sydney's inner west on Monday evening, NSW Police said in a statement.

Top barrister and charity boss Mark Philip Dennis dead after child abuse arrest

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...

High Court Rules Diocese Liable in AA v Maitland-Newcastle : Koffels he High Court has allowed AA's appeal in [2026] HCA 2, finding the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle owed a non-delegable duty of care. Koffels represented the appellant.

The High Court finds the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle liable under a non-delegable duty of care and overturning Lepore. Koffels represented AA. The decision has significant implications for institutional abuse survivors across Australia.

koffels.com.au/high-court-r...

Experts baffled over how teacher with child sex abuse record could pass Chicago Archdiocese background check Brett J. Smith has been repeatedly accused of assaulting children and using several different names to hide his past. It remains unclear how he passed a background check.

Experts baffled over how teacher with child sex abuse record could pass Chicago Archdiocese background check

chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

A former student has detailed alleged classroom grooming and hotel sex assault by her accounting teacher when she was 16, telling a court she pleaded with him to stop.

www.themercury.com.au/truecrimeaus...

‘Deepfake abuse is abuse’ Statement by UNICEF on AI-generated sexualised images of children.

www.unicef.org/press-releas...

My cultural awakening: Bach helped me survive sexual abuse as a child For pianist James Rhodes, the composer’s music expressed feelings that he could not put into words – and kept helping him as his mental health suffered in adulthood

For pianist James Rhodes, the composer’s music expressed feelings that he could not put into words – and kept helping him as his mental health suffered in adulthood

Top Sydney barrister dead after being caught with child abuse material A high-profile Sydney lawyer has died weeks after being caught with child abuse images at Sydney Airport.

A prominent Sydney barrister has died, taking his own life weeks after Australian Federal Police allegedly found child abuse material on his phone

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

‘Disturbing’: Australian government demands review of Roblox’s PG rating after reports of child grooming Communications minister Anika Wells points to media reports alleging children can access spaces meant for adults which include explicit sexual content

‘Disturbing’: Australian government demands review of Roblox’s PG rating after reports of child grooming

Priest admitted sexual abuse nearly 20 years ago, church sent him overseas without notifying police The religious order sent the priest to Australia for a programme that provided risk assessment and therapy for those accused of sexual abuse.

NZ Priest admitted sexual abuse nearly 20 years ago, church sent him overseas without notifying police

www.rnz.co.nz/news/nationa...

17 former N.C. State athletes join lawsuit alleging abuse by ex-head trainer The complaint filed in Wake County Superior Court late last week expands a case alleging years of misconduct by Robert L. Murphy Jr.

17 additional former North Carolina State male athletes have joined a state lawsuit alleging sexual abuse under the guise of treatment and harassment by the Wolfpack's former director of sports medicine.

spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-...

‘Depraved’ Sydney satanic child abuse ring ‘the most extreme’ police have seen The allegations against six men accused of running the paedophile network have shocked detectives, prosecutors and even the courts.

‘Depraved’ Sydney satanic child abuse ring ‘the most extreme’ police have seen

Victim of sexual abuse feels 'stronger' after reporting to police The man was seven when he was sexually abused by his friend's older brother, who was in his 20s at the time.

'I feel braver, stronger' after reporting sexual abuse to police

Maryland Softball Coach Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges - The BayNet BALTIMORE, Md. – A federal grand jury indicted a Perry Hall, Maryland, softball coach in connection with child sexual abuse charges.  Michael Joseph Pusateri, 59, of Nottingham, Maryland, is charged with producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), coercion and enticement, receipt of CSAM, and possession of CSAM. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of […]

Maryland Softball Coach Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges

thebaynet.com/maryland-sof...

Queensland man charged with 596 child abuse offences allegedly groomed children online, police say The 27-year-old man from Maryborough is alleged to have had 23,000 photographs and videos stored on a hard drive

Queensland man charged with 596 child abuse offences allegedly groomed children online, police say

RI bishop sends letter to state’s Catholics about clergy sex abuse report. What it says. - BishopAccountability.org [See also the text of Bishop Lewandowski’s letter.] Rhode Island’s Catholic Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski has apologized ahead of a state report on clergy child sex abuse. The attorney general’s report is expected to detail how the church hid abuse by dozens of priests affecting hundreds of children. The diocese voluntarily entered the review and asserts it now has robust policies to protect children. Rhode Island’s Catholic Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski is seeking to prepare the many Catholics in the state for the imminent release of the attorney general’s long-anticipated report on decades of clergy child sex abuse. And, on Thursday, he also offered an apology. “I take this opportunity to apologize to the victim-survivors for the failures of church personnel and others in past decades to protect them and keep them safe,” he said Jan. 29 in a letter addressed to “Brothers...

“I take this opportunity to apologize to the victim-survivors for the failures of church personnel and others in past decades to protect them and keep them safe"- Rhode Island’s Catholic Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski

www.bishop-accountability.org/2026/02/ri-b...

Former NQ police officer sentenced over child abuse material The court heard Mark Andrew Lewer had created profiles on four 'dark net' websites. 

A former Queensland police officer has pleaded guilty to using up to four 'dark net' accounts to view child abuse material, and possession of child exploitation material.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...

Sixth man charged over alleged Sydney-based 'satanic' paedophile ring Another man has been charged and a further 145 alleged offenders have been referred to international law enforcement agencies as part of an investigation into a satanic child sex abuse material ring.

Sixth man charged in 'satanic' child abuse material ring probe, further 145 alleged offenders identified

Grace Tame’s former abuser likely to be found unfit for trial over alleged online harassment

www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmani...

Neil Gaiman claims sexual assault allegations are result of ‘smear campaign’ Author says accusations ‘spread and amplified’ by people more interested in ‘outrage and getting clicks’

Neil Gaiman claims sexual assault allegations are result of ‘smear campaign’

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/f...

Son of Norway’s crown princess detained on fresh allegations ahead of trial Marius Borg Høiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, was apprehended on suspicion of causing bodily harm, wielding a knife and violating a restraining order.

Son of Norway’s crown princess detained on fresh allegations ahead of trial

www.smh.com.au/world/europe...

Woman sues former Hobart College teacher over alleged rape as a student in 1980s

www.themercury.com.au/truecrimeaus...

Notorious sex offender hid his fortune to avoid $1.4m payout The former Bega cheese boss, a convicted paedophile, hasn’t paid a cent to his victims. There’s a plan to change that.

Nearly three years after a court ruled convicted paedophile and former Bega Cheese boss Maurice Van Ryn pay $1.4 million in damages, the victim has yet to see a cent.

A man arrested for alleged child abuse offending in Central Australia is listed to make another bid for a bail, a NT court has heard, following an unsuccessful attempt last year.

www.ntnews.com.au/news/man-36-...