About 1979, a family from the Beenleigh parish contacted Brisbane Archbishop Francis Rush about a matter involving Fr Dermot Casey and the family's daughter, who in 1979 was a pupil at the local Catholic primary school, St Joseph's Tobruk Memorial school, Beenleigh. Rush was archbishop from 1973 to 1991 (he died in 2001 and was succeeded by Archbishop John Alexius Bathersby).

Twenty-one years later, in 2000, this family again approached the Brisbane archdiocese on behalf of the same daughter. In 2002, by which time she was in her thirties, this daughter obtained an out-of-court civil settlement from the Brisbane archdiocese.

The settlement Deed, dated 19 June 2002, contains three signatures on behalf of the church authorities:

1. Bishop John Gerry, signing the Deed in his role as an auxiliary bishop of the Brisbane archdiocese;

2. Archbishop J.A. Bathersby, who is described (alongside this signature) as "one of the Trustees" of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane; and

3. Another signature by Archbishop J.A. Bathersby, who is described (alongside this signature) as "Executor of the Estate of the late Archbishop Francis Rush".

"[The woman] alleges, that as a result of these assaults, she sustained loss, damage and injuries and may require counselling or therapy in the future."

According to the Deed, the three church signatories "deny that they are liable in any manner" to the woman regarding the alleged assaults. "However, in order to avoid the cost, expense and inconvenience of litigation, the parties to this Deed have agreed to settle the claim."

According to the Deed, the church signatories agree to make a payment to the woman. In exchange for this payment, the woman acknowledges that this sum "is paid in full extinguishment of her rights" against the church signatories. This, the Deed says, releases the church signatories from all claims (and any future claims) against the church signatories.

According to the Deed, the woman "has had the opportunity of taking independentlegal advice on the settlement and on this Deed but has declined to take such advice, despite a strong recommendation that she should do so."

FOOTNOTE

Father Dermot Casey was ordained as a priest about 1960 and he belongs to the Brisbane archdiocese. According to the annual editions of the Australian Catholic Directory, Fr Dermot Casey's parishes have included:

Cannon Hill (St Oliver Plunkett's) in the late 1960s;
Beenleigh (St Patrick's) in the 1970s; and
Salisbury (St Pius X) in the 1980s.

In those years, he was also a part-time military chaplain for the Army Reserve. His recreations included sailing a yacht.

In the early 1990s, while still belonging to the Brisbane archdiocese, he served as a full-time army chaplain at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville, north Queensland.

He retired in 1996 and then began residing in a Brisbane Catholic retirement village. In the 2010 edition of the annual Australian Catholic Directory, Reverend Dermot Casey was still listed as a "supplementary priest" (retired) of the Brisbane Catholic archdiocese.