[8] The Commission found in its report on Ballarat that Mulkearns was dismissive of complaints and complainants[9] and concluded:This case study exposed a catastrophic failure in the leadership of the Diocese and ultimately in the structure and culture of the Church over decades to effectively respond to the sexual abuse of children by its priests.
"[15] The Commission stated that Bishop Mulkearns’ response to Paul Levey living with Ridsdale in the Mortlake presbytery "demonstrated a total absence of concern for the welfare of that boy".
One victim held a photo of a class from St Alipius Primary School and stated that 12 of the 33 boys had committed suicide because of the abuse.
[19] In 2014, The Australian Catholic University's Aquinas campus also removed Mulkearns' name from its lecture theatre for his failure to act on paedophile priests.
[23] Ballarat clergy sex abuse survivor Phil Nagle said: "His passing means a lot of secrets and sins will go to the grave with him.
"[24] Mulkearns was the first bishop of the diocese to be refused a burial in the cathedral crypt, and was interred at the Ballarat General Cemetery in a small ceremony.
The succeeding Bishop of Ballarat, Paul Bird, announced in September 2016 that all profits from Mulkearns' estate would be given to victims of abuse.