A victim of paedophile priest John Denham said the fight for millions of dollars in compensation was not just for the living, but for boys and men who committed suicide because of Denham's abuse.
"This is for those who are still here with us, and those who aren't, who can't fight," the Newcastle man named Tom said.
At least 10 former St Pius X students who attended the school from November 1975 until January 1980, when Denham taught there, are believed to have subsequently died violent deaths, the majority suicide or drug-related.
"The church knew about Denham for years and did nothing," Tom said.
Another Newcastle man who received compensation said he was "happy to see the bastard locked up", but the church needed to pay for its failings as well.
Australian Lawyers Alliance NSW spokesman Dr Andrew Morrison, SC, said compensation was "not a windfall".
"Most of the money will be for loss of earnings for people whose lives have been broken by the impact of sexual abuse when they were children," he said.
The powerlessness of children to protect themselves against Denham, because reporting his abuse usually resulted in more abuse, left many of his victims with serious mental health, and drug and alcohol issues.
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