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  Where Is Bishop Raymond Lahey?

By Kris Mcdavid
Times & Transcript
October 6, 2009

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/814844

ROGERSVILLE - Where in the world is Raymond Lahey?

The former Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Antigonish turned himself in to Ottawa police last Thursday after a nation-wide warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of possession and importation of child pornography.

Lahey was released on $9,000 bail later that day and as a condition of his release was scheduled to reside at a monastery near Rogersville until his next court date on Nov. 4., much to the chagrin of many in the community.

But Bede Stockill, abbot of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Calvary, said yesterday that he hasn't seen Lahey since last Tuesday when the former bishop attended mass at the cloistered sanctuary.

Stockill said he doesn't expect Lahey to turn up at his facility anytime soon either, saying he hasn't even been contacted by Ottawa Crown prosecutors to confirm Lahey's arrival.

"He's not staying here, no," said Stockill. "All I ever saw was something written in the press."

It appears this is news to investigators at the Ottawa Police Service.

Const. Allain Boucher said police were aware that Lahey was indeed due to reside within the monastery on Route 126 as part of his release and nothing has occurred that would change that.

"I let the lead investigator know and he's looking into it," said Boucher.

A clerk at the criminal court offices in Ottawa also confirmed that their system indicates that Lahey was supposed to be residing at the monastery in Rogersville.

Cpl. John Letourneau of the Rogersville RCMP detachment said he won't confirm whether Lahey is staying in the community or not.

He said people are released on an undertaking in Canada almost every day, adding that this situation is no different.

"There's no more to say; I'm not going to continue to give updates and that's not really the business of the community at-large," he said.

"We're here to continue to respond to the needs of this file, if any, and other than that, what we do as police agencies, we have people in our community on undertaking, so that's all. I won't comment on his whereabouts any further."

Under the conditions of his release, Lahey is to report to RCMP twice a week, is to refrain from interacting with anyone under the age of 18 or attending any public places where young people may be present, and is also barred from possessing any pornography or a computer with Internet access.

He is required to stay in the Rogersville area; however he is allowed to leave the monastery grounds.

Rogersville Mayor Bertrand LeBlanc said he understands that Lahey hasn't been convicted of anything, but points out that the charges against him are serious and many people in the community would rather not have him in the area.

LeBlanc said it was always his understanding that Lahey is indeed living at the monastery.

"From what I'm hearing, yes, he's here. From what I know, he dropped in there straight from Ottawa.

"Nobody wants him here, he'd have to have brothers or sisters or family that he could go stay with; I'm pretty sure they've got room in the Vatican in Rome," said LeBlanc.

Stockill said RCMP officers have visited the monastery to check in on Lahey but haven't been back since.

He said if Lahey were to turn up he would be welcomed into the sanctuary.

"Yes we will, but I'm not expecting him to (turn up)," said Stockell.

"They (RCMP) were here and were followed by the press, but they went away again when they found out I hadn't heard from the Crown prosecutor," he said.

 
 

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