* 1974: Vince Ryan indecently assaults two boys, aged six and eight. The mother immediately reports the assaults to Monsignor Patrick Cotter.
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* December 1975: Monsignor Cotter is told of more serious sexual assaults by Ryan. Ryan admits the acts to the monsignor.
* 1976: Ryan spends a year of "rehabilitation" in Melbourne and attends one session with a psychiatrist/priest for assessment. He described the year as a "cover-up". The psychiatrist tells him: "You're not the only one [priest] to have done something like this."
* June 1976: Bishop Leo Clarke takes over Maitland-Newcastle Diocese from acting Bishop Patrick Cotter.
* 1977: Ryan returns to the diocese after writing a letter to Bishop Clarke. Ryan resumes sexual offences against boys aged six to 14. He is moved from parish to parish from 1977 to 1991.
* 1990: A woman speaks to another diocesan priest after hearing Ryan is still offending. The priest "got up and walked away from me and he didn't want to know; he left me sitting there".
* May 1991: A woman phones Monsignor Cotter after her son reveals repeated abuse by Ryan when he was a child. When she asks what the monsignor is going to do about it, he replies: "We'll deal with it." Nothing happens.
* 1995: Police investigate serious child sexual abuse allegations against Ryan. He is charged in October.
* January 1996: Monsignor Patrick Cotter is formally interviewed by police investigating whether he concealed a serious crime. They send a brief recommending a charge to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The matter does not proceed, in large part because of Cotter's age. He is 82.
* July 1996: Police formally interview Bishop Leo Clarke. He denies any knowledge of Ryan's activities but admits reinstating him to the diocese.
* 1996: Ryan pleads guilty to a first round of child sex offences.
* 1997: Ryan pleads guilty to a second round of child sex offences. He is sentenced to a total of 16 years' jail.
* 2002: Ryan loses an appeal against the severity of his sentence.
* August 2007: Monsignor Patrick Cotter dies. Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle Michael Malone conducts the funeral service for the "loved uncle, great-uncle and priest".
