Paedophile priest Vincent Ryan released on parole after serving 14 months of a three-year sentence

"How can he walk around with a collar on when he is a convicted child abuser," Mr Hallett asked on Tuesday as 82-year-old Ryan was released from jail after serving less than half of a three year sentence for sexually abusing altar boys at The Junction and Cessnock.

Ryan was driven from Long Bay Jail at 6am. His whereabouts are not known, however, he is prohibited from returning to the Hunter Region.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Bishop Bill Wright said the Catholic Church would not be financially supporting Ryan.

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Ryan previously served 14 years jail for the abuse of 34 boys between 1973 and 1991.

Following a judge-only trial, Ryan was found guilty in March 2019 of four more counts of indecent assault against two other victims who came forward to police in 2016.

The first victim was abused by Ryan during an altar boy training session in the sacristy of St Joseph's Catholic Church, The Junction in 1974.

The second victim was abused while sitting next to Ryan on a couch during a movie night for altar boys at a hall adjacent to St Joseph's Catholic Church, Cessnock, in the early 1990s.

In setting a non-parole period of 14 months, Judge Dina Yehia said the seriousness of the offences required that Ryan be sent back to jail despite a medical report that said it may have a catastrophic impact on his physical and mental health.

"Children are expected to be able to live their lives free from sexual violation and the distress it causes," she said.

Like other victims Mr Hallett said he was gutted that Ryan had been released on parole .

"It has really just hit home today. What's the point in sentencing him to three years if you are going to let him out after 14 months," he said.

"I understand they get sentenced based on the law at the time of the offence but 16 years for abusing 36 victims is a joke."

"I've been fighting the church for 25 years and he got 16 years." he said.

Mr Hallett called for the courts to place greater weight on the impact that sexual crimes have on victims.

"I still struggle and so do a few other guys I know. A few others aren't here any more."

"Do you think Vince cares about how we are doing?"

Former police minister and detective Troy Grant who investigated the initial complaints against Ryan in the mid-1990s said he hoped all of Ryan's victims had now been accounted for.

"As was shown during the initial investigation and over the course of time he was serial paedophile who has again been sentenced for heinous crimes against children," Mr Grant said following Ryan's sentence.

Ryan will be subject to continuous surveillance while wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet. and is required to regularly report to a parole officer.

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