Minister backed paedophile Frank Abbott in court twice: William Tyrrell inquest hears
Paedophile and William Tyrrell person of interest Frank Abbott was a regular in Pastor Martin Parish’s “flock” but when he was twice charged with child sex offences — once acquitted then once convicted — the holy man stepped up to help him in court.
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A small town minister told a court he has continually advocated for a convicted paedophile, who is a person of interest in William Tyrrell's disappearance, even after one allegation emerged against him from the religious leader's own network.
The Baptist minister told the Coroners Court he's had "difficulties" accepting the sex offender's guilt and was recorded on a prison phone talking with the paedophile about getting a court to realise someone connected to the complainant was a "pathological liar".
Martin Parish, a former youth worker turned prison chaplain and then religious leader in the tiny town of Herons Creek on the NSW Mid-North Coast, fronted the inquest into the disappearance of William on Monday where one of his "flock", Frank Abbott, watched from Cessnock prison via audiovisual link.
Pastor Parish told the court a relative had introduced him to Abbott in around 2007.
It wasn't long, Pastor Parish said, before Abbott became a regular at that relative's property. Abbott worked with the relative to restore the old homestead and became one of the minister's congregation at about this time.
It was in 2010 the minister set out on an ambitious project, restoring a tiny chapel in the sleepy logging town and establish it as a community focal point.
Abbott, good with tools, helped dig fence holes and unload trucks, Pastor Parish said, agreeing it was general handyman work. He then became a regular church go-er through 2012 and 2013.
But the minister also told the court he had become aware of "gossip" Abbott had been charged with a murder in Sydney — he was acquitted in the 1990s of killing schoolgirl Helen Mary Harrison in 1968.
"Frank would come and download on me at times about things that were worrying him and I’d listen," Pastor Parish said on Monday.
In September 2014 William vanished from his foster grandmother's home in nearby Kendall, no person has never been charged over the disappearance and Abbott denies any involvement.
The following year Abbott was charged with a sexual offence against a child at the minister's relative’s home and was refused bail.
Pastor Parish told the court he stood up in front of his church and asked if anyone could help put Abbott up in accommodation — one man offered up a caravan.
So the minister said he travelled to Sydney to formally support Abbott"s bid for freedom.
"You indicated to the court that the parishioners' congregation stood behind Mr Abbott and would provide him whatever support he needed," Counsel Assisting the Coroner Gerard Craddock SC said.
"Yes," the minister responded.
Abbott was bailed but could no longer attend church so his minister continued to "drop in" to see him at the caravan or drive him around the town, he told the court.
The inquest, last week, heard Abbott's new neighbours were suspicious of him and believe he enticed their labrador onto his property after they saw the dog with his legs in the air on the end of his bed.
Abbott would ultimately be found not guilty of the child sexual offence charge and, in late 2016, the court orders changed to allow him to return to church for the monthly gatherings.
But it was less than a year before Abbott found himself behind bars again — this time charged with sexual offences on other children.
This time it went to trial and he was found guilty.
Pastor Parish, who again had tried to help Abbott secure bail, said he was in court when the verdicts were read out.
Mr Craddock had to ask the minister multiple times if he accepted the jury's verdicts against Abbott as reflecting his guilt.
"I would say he was convicted and he hasn't been afforded the chance to appeal," Pastor Parish said on Monday.
"I have spoken to Frank and Frank has said to me that there are mitigating circumstances he’d like to have played back in court."
Since then the minister has remained a supporter of Abbott, talking to him on the prison phones and visiting the paedophile behind bars on multiple occasions.
He agreed when Mr Craddock said he had done "homework" for Abbott during the coronial inquest and the court heard two recorded phone calls where they discussed the case.
"God bless you mate," the men would say at the end of their calls.
He was asked if, at one point, he said to Abbott "how are we going to get the court to realise (a person connected to the complainant) is a pathological liar".
"Yes," he told the court.
"Jesus talked about protecting your flock, if one goes missing you try and find them. I’m trying to assist where I can."
The minister said he had reported Abbott's charges in accordance with the rules set down by his church and he and his wife both monitored the paedophile during his time with their congregation.
But he said his congregation would not likely know "the full extent" of what were described as his "extraordinary" efforts to help Abbott.
The pastor was asked if he'd ever suggested to Abbott that he take a sex offender's course. But the court heard he had not made the suggestion.
The inquest continues this week.