Three former High Court associates have announced plans to sue former justice Dyson Heydon and the Commonwealth for compensation, after an independent investigation found their complaints of sexual harassment were valid.

An independent investigation commissioned by the High Court, referred to on Monday in a statement released by the Chief Justice, found six former court staff members were harassed by Dyson Heydon, claims which have been categorically denied by the former justice.

Maurice Blackburn lawyer Josh Bornstein, who is representing the three women seeking compensation, said the alleged harassment had caused significant harm to his clients.

“I again want to commend the High Court for its response in this matter, it is greatly appreciated by my clients to know that the court accepts the findings made against Mr Heydon and that the women who came forward are believed,” he said.

Mr Bornstein said the women were too scared to make complaints about Mr Heydon’s alleged behaviour at the time of the alleged conduct.

“They were the best and brightest out of law school. This was their first job in the legal profession, working for one of the most powerful men. They were in the early 20s, he was in his late 60s. In all three cases, they’ve abandoned the law,” he said.

In a statement released on Monday, High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said the findings were of “extreme concern” and that the women’s accounts “have been believed”.

“We have moved to do all we can to make sure the experiences of these women will not be repeated,” Chief Justice Kiefel said.

Former High Court judge Dyson Heydon has denied the allegations. Photo: AAP

The ABC has repeatedly tried to contact Mr Heydon’s lawyers, but no response has been offered.

In a statement provided to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Heydon, via his lawyers, denied “emphatically any allegation of sexual harassment or any offence”.

“In respect of the confidential inquiry and its subsequent confidential report, any allegation of predatory behaviour or breaches of the law is categorically denied by our client,” a statement from his lawyers said.

“Our client says that if any conduct of his has caused offence, that result was inadvertent and unintended, and he apologises for any offence caused.

“We have asked the High Court to convey that directly to the associate complainants.

“The inquiry was an internal administrative inquiry and was conducted by a public servant and not by a lawyer, judge or a tribunal member. It was conducted without having statutory powers of investigation and of administering affirmations or oaths.”

Mr Heydon was on the High Court bench between 2003 and 2013.

According to the Chief Justice’s statement, the High Court was made aware of the allegations in March last year. Five of the people who made complaints had worked for Mr Heydon.

Prime Minister says allegations are ‘disturbing’

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten argued on Tuesdau morning that Mr Heydon should be stripped of his Companion of the Order of Australia honour (AC) in light of the allegations.

His successor, Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday it should be about paying tribute to the bravery of women who came forward to make the allegations, rather than focusing on the honours award.

“No doubt there will be further consequences of this action,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the allegations against Mr Heydon “incredibly serious”.

“Allegations of this sort are obviously very disturbing and very concerning,” he said.

But Mr Morrison said it was too early for discussions about stripping the former judge of his AC.

“People’s awards and honours, if those processes end in a place where people have, where those allegations have been upheld, then there’s a normal process for honours to be dealt with at that time,” he said.

“It’s not appropriate to presuppose those processes, that’s not the way these things should be handled.

“There should be a proper process to deal with this. There will be.”

Protocol dictates that when the Governor-General receives requests to terminate or cancel an award, it is passed onto the Council of the Order of Australia.

When the council makes a recommendation, it does so directly to the Governor-General, who acts upon that advice independent of the Government.

-ABC