His mother, Annie (née McLaughlin), from Edinburgh,[4] was usually the subject of her husband's beatings, which frequently left her "cut, bloodied and bruised".

The family was very poor and the young Maguire rarely had socks and also had to borrow his brother's old services overcoat to hide the holes in the clothes he wore to school.

He received a scholarship from the Returned Services League to attend the private school Christian Brothers College, St Kilda, from 1948 to 1953.

[8][9] In 1953, at age 18, Maguire began studying theology at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, where he received his training for the priesthood.

[citation needed] The "Bob Squad" is the foundation's volunteer fund-raising and welfare provision arm, which is styled on and inspired by Maguire's sense of revolutionary approach to social justice.

[14] The foundation, which operates within the City of Port Phillip, is engaged in the local community as a grassroots organisation and conducts activities such as delivering meals, providing food from its pantry and social advocacy.

[15] Maguire was known as a "social justice warrior", one who cared deeply about the well-being of the poor, disadvantaged, the homeless and other vulnerable members of society.

He was previously chairman of Open Family and involved in Emerald Hill Mission, having been an integral part of the establishment of both organisations.

[21] On 7 September 2009, Maguire announced on his blog that he had been contacted by church authorities and asked to tender his resignation on his upcoming 75th birthday.

[22] Maguire's life and forced retirement was the subject of the 2013 feature-length documentary In Bob We Trust, directed by Lynn-Maree Milburn.