NSW: Sacked choirmaster takes chuch to commission

00-00-0000
NSW: Sacked choirmaster takes chuch to commission

SYDNEY, Feb 17 AAP - The choirmaster allegedly sacked from Sydney's St Mary's Cathedralover his association with a child sex offender today expressed regret at launching legalaction to regain his job.

David Russell said he had been left with little choice but to lodge the unfair dismissalapplication against the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney in the NSW Industrial RelationsCommission.

"I regret having to launch this action for unfair dismissal, but I have been forcedto do so," Mr Russell told journalists outside the commission.

"All I want is my job back, a job that I have held for 28 great years."

At a yet-to-be-scheduled commission hearing, Mr Russell said he would claim he wasdenied procedural fairness, and seek an order that he be reinstated as choirmaster.

He was fired after allegations that convicted sex offender David O'Grady had committedoffences in Mr Russell's inner-west home in the 1980s.

The victim, a former choir boy at the cathedral, was reportedly suing the church andMr Russell for breach of duty of care, but Mr Russell said he was "totally unaware ofsuch events".

"I have done nothing wrong, and I am confident any fair and independent review of thechurch's unfair action will come to exactly the same conclusion," he added.

St Mary's choristers Peter Vierboom and his 18-year-old son Francis said the choirwas confused and saddened by the church's "shocking action", and wanted Mr Russell tocome back.

Mr Vierboom said he spoke for the parents of the choir's 35 or 40 children, includingabout 20 aged under 12.

"It's basically unanimous support for David," Mr Vierboom said outside the commission,adding that no parents had withdrawn their children from the choir.

"If he was to leave the choir ... I think the majority of the volunteers would leave."

Mr Vierboom called on the church to reveal the details of the inquiry that precededMr Russell's sacking.

Comment was being sought from the church.

AAP kbw/nf/gjr/ts

KEYWORD: CHOIRMASTER LEAD