It can now be revealed that a family member of well-known Catholic priest Father Robert ‘Bob’ Maguire gained a financial and medical power of attorney over Father Bob on October 19, 2020.
The enduring Power Of Attorney was revoked on Monday, April 3, 2023, when the family member gained a guardianship order over Father Bob according to VCAT documents seen by VicNews.
Father Bob was unable to be identified as the subject of the order by media due to Victoria’s Guardianship and Administration Act 2019.
On Friday Herald Sun journalist Brooke Grebert-Craig, The Age journalist Cameron Houston and VicNews (this masthead) argued before VCAT it was in the public interest to release documents. An exemption was granted allowing publication.
Due to the guardianship order, Father Bob was forced to step down as chairman of his own Foundation.
Father Bob often called his advocate, Sally Millard, in the middle of the night in tears speaking of “dangerous frenemies” and “suits coming for him.” VicNews spoke to Father Bob on numerous occasions. According to him, he had no idea he was under any Power of Attorney or Guardianship order.
On April 18, Father Bob told Herald Sun reporter Brooke Grebert-Craig: “It’s nasty … I’ve known these blokes for years but they have turned treacherous.”
Father Bob passed away on April 19, 2023.
“I’m not used to this, we always ran the show as a fighting unit, I’m the commander in chief.”
“It’s all a bloody mess,” Father Bob told Grebert-Craig.
VicNews can also reveal that the appointed guardian, a family member, controlled who could visit Father Bob at Justin Villa – a retirement home for priests in Balwyn – against his own wishes.
Despite Father Bob’s own wishes, the appointed guardian controlled who could visit Father Bob, preventing those he wished to see from visiting. VicNews is aware of Father Bob’s advocate, Sally Millard, being prevented from visiting Father Bob by the appointed guardian.
However, Father Bob did not accept such and went and spoke with Millard anyway, despite the guardian trying to prevent Father Bob from doing so.
Father Bob’s Twitter ‘timeline’, which VicNews has confirmed was @FatherBob tweeting, shows Father Bob calling out for “The MSM to help” since December 2022.
Foundation staff, made redundant by the Board following the Guardianship order, confirmed to VicNews it was Father Bob’s own “heartfelt words” and “pleas for help.”
“I support Sally Millard 110 per cent,” a former Foundation staff member told VicNews.
It was not staff or others using Father Bob’s Twitter account, but Father Bob himself, the former staff officer confirmed to VicNews.
“The Board wanted to push him out,” Millard said.
The Foundation Board, speaking to the Herald Sun, slammed Millard’s allegations as driven by “online conspiracy theorists.”
The VCAT action was commenced by VicNews Melbourne newspapers The Age and Herald Sun requested to join the action and we granted permission, upon approval of the presiding VCAT officer.
The Foundation, Board Members, Steve Michelson of PR firm Michelson Alexander and the lawyer, Tony Joyce, representing the appointed guardian at VCAT declined several requests for comment.
