A Greek Orthodox priest remains unrepentant for sexually abusing a mother and her two children, and views repentance as something reserved for others, a magistrate has said.
Mario “George” Fayjloun used his position in the Church to abuse the family’s trust and then sexually touched the three victims on six occasions during confession and at dinner.
On two occasions, the 36-year-old man touched the mother in the groin and breasts and forced her to touch his penis.
He also touched the older daughter on the inner thigh twice and kissed her on the lips, and separately placed his hand under the younger daughter’s shirt, touching her on the chest and back.
His crimes took place at the Greek Orthodox Church in Central Mangrove, north of Sydney, and at the family home in the city’s southwest between August 2019 and February 2020.
The Mays Hill man appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday where Magistrate Gareth Christofi handed down sentence after finding him guilty of nine counts of aggravated sexual contact.
He said the now-retired priest had “cynically abused” the trust placed in him by his victims.
“The victims of these crimes experienced significant emotional distress after being sexually assaulted in their own home by a man they said they trusted and revered,” the judge said.
Mario Fayjloun is pictured arriving at Liverpool Local Court in Sydney, Thursday, September 26, 2024
While the touching was brief, without violence or threats, the crimes were aggravated because the victims were abused multiple times inside their own home, Christofi said.
“The victims were inherently vulnerable because of their relationship with their attacker,” he said.
‘The attacker took advantage of this vulnerability for his own sexual gratification.’
Fayjloun continued to deny the crimes, claiming the victims had fabricated the allegations for financial gain, Christofi said.
“Repentance for Father Fayjloun is something others should do, it seems,” he said.
Although the priest lost his income after being forced to resign from his position at the church following his arrest, he continued to provide services from his home, the judge said.
Fayjloun was sentenced to a two-year intensive correctional order, meaning he will serve his sentence in the community.
He has been ordered to complete 300 hours of community service and is prohibited from performing religious or spiritual services during that time.
Fayjloun was surrounded by supporters as Mr Christofi delivered his sentence, some of whom wept as the hearing adjourned.
The priest did not say anything to reporters as he left the court.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Service for Support and Reparation in Cases of Sexual Abuse 1800 211 028
