Father Anthony (Tony) Bongiorno

Father Anthony (Tony) Bongiorno was a Catholic priest of the Melbourne Archdiocese. Although he was acquitted of criminal charges in 1996, the Melbourne Archdiocese and the Victorian Crimes Compensation Tribunal later accepted that he had sexually abused children. The full number of his victims is unknown.

Priesthood and Parish Appointments

Anthony Bongiorno began training for the priesthood around 1960 at the age of 25.

According to the Australian Catholic Directory, his parish appointments included:

• Late 1960s: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maidstone (Footscray West)

• Early 1970s: St Joseph's Parish, Brunswick West

• Mid-1970s: St Mark's Parish, Fawkner

• Late 1970s – 1980: St Mary's Parish, Thornbury

• 1981: Reservoir North Parish

• May 1981 – 1995: St Ambrose's Parish, Brunswick

Maria James Murder (1980)

In 1980, while Bongiorno was serving at St Mary's Parish, Thornbury, parishioner Maria James, aged 38, was murdered by stabbing. Victoria Police investigated the homicide but were unable to identify the killer.

More than three decades later, the case would again draw attention to Bongiorno.

Child Sexual Abuse

Evidence later accepted by the Victorian Crimes Compensation Tribunal found that Bongiorno repeatedly sexually abused a boy known publicly as "Rex" from 1981 onwards while serving at St Ambrose's Parish, Brunswick.

According to legal evidence, Bongiorno invited Rex, then aged 11, to stay overnight at the presbytery, where the boy shared the priest's bed. Rex alleged that Bongiorno sexually assaulted him in the bedroom and while showering together. The abuse continued over several years.

Bongiorno provided the boy with food, clothing, gifts, watches and money. Although the Children's Court ordered that Rex was not to stay at the presbytery, Bongiorno allegedly continued to have him living there from time to time.

Another victim, known as "Fred", alleged that Bongiorno sexually assaulted him after Mass in 1983 when the boy was taken to the presbytery. Fred stated that Bongiorno repeatedly abused him between 1983 and 1987 and also gave him money.

A third complainant, known as "Adam", later alleged abuse occurring during the same period.

Early Complaint Ignored (1985)

In 1985, Rex disclosed the abuse to a social worker.

The Melbourne Archdiocese asked another priest, a close friend of Bongiorno from seminary days, to investigate the complaint. Bongiorno denied the allegations, and the matter was not pursued further.

Victims Come Forward (1993–1995)

In 1993, parishioners complained to diocesan authorities after seeing young boys in Bongiorno's bed and observing him showering with them.

In 1995, Rex, then aged 25, reported the abuse to Victoria Police after recognising the long-term impact it had had on his childhood and adolescent development. Police subsequently located additional complainants.

Criminal Charges (1996)

In February 1996, Bongiorno, then aged 61, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court charged with multiple counts of indecent assault involving three boys between 1981 and 1987, together with one charge of sexual penetration.

He pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Cotterell committed Bongiorno to stand trial, finding there was sufficient evidence for a jury to convict.

During the committal proceedings, Melbourne Archdiocese Vicar-General Monsignor Gerald Cudmore distributed a statement inviting victims of church sexual abuse to contact the Archdiocese.

County Court Trials (1996)

The trials were held in the Melbourne County Court in August 1996.

The prosecution sought to have the allegations involving Rex and Fred heard together so the jury could consider the similarities between the complaints. Defence lawyers successfully argued that separate juries should hear each case.

During the trials, several witnesses testified that they had seen Rex or Fred in Bongiorno's bed or knew that Bongiorno showered with the boys. Former assistant priest Father Gordon Gebbie acknowledged seeing Rex in Bongiorno's bedroom and bathroom but had not reported his concerns to child protection authorities.

Despite the evidence, both juries acquitted Bongiorno. After the second trial concluded, some jurors reportedly learned there had been multiple complainants. The Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently withdrew the proposed third trial involving Adam.

Compensation and Church Findings (1997)

Although Bongiorno was acquitted in the criminal courts, the Victorian Crimes Compensation Tribunal reached a different conclusion.

In 1997, the Tribunal accepted evidence that Bongiorno had repeatedly indecently assaulted Rex from 1981 onwards and awarded compensation for the psychological harm caused by the abuse.

The Melbourne Archdiocese's Independent Commissioner, Peter O'Callaghan QC, also accepted complaints that Bongiorno had sexually abused children at Brunswick. The Archdiocese paid compensation to a number of victims.

Following the publicity surrounding the allegations, Bongiorno remained on leave from ministry and did not return to parish work.

Death (2002)

Anthony Bongiorno died on 15 February 2002.

His funeral was held at St Peter and St Paul Church, South Melbourne, attended by a number of Catholic priests. Father Graham Redfern played a leading role in arranging the funeral.

Renewed Interest in the Maria James Murder (2012–2018)

In 2012, Victoria Police reopened aspects of the investigation into the 1980 murder of Maria James.

Maria's son, Adam James, told investigators that Bongiorno had sexually abused him as a child and that he had disclosed the abuse to his mother shortly before she was murdered. He stated that Maria intended confronting Bongiorno about the allegations.

Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles sought to obtain Bongiorno's DNA for comparison with DNA recovered from the murder scene. After Bongiorno's family declined to assist, police applied to exhume his body for DNA testing. The Coroner refused the application, finding there was insufficient evidence to justify exhumation.

In 2015, Victoria Police announced they were no longer investigating Bongiorno in connection with the Maria James homicide.

In November 2018, Acting State Coroner Iain West announced that the coronial investigation into the death of Maria James would be reopened.