Former Priest in Court over Alleged Child Sex Abuse

By Louise Hall
Launceston Times
May 23, 2012

http://www.launcestontimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/former-priest-in-court-over-alleged-child-sex-abuse/2566408.aspx

A retired Catholic priest and a one-time close personal friend of the Attorney-General, Greg Smith, has appeared in court over the alleged sexual abuse of four children in the 1970s and '80s.

Father Finian Egan, 77, appeared in Ryde Local Court this morning to face 16 charges of indecent assault and one charge of rape while he was a priest in Sydney and the central coast.

He has not entered a plea.

He has been the subject of a police investigation that began in 2010 following complaints he abused five children 30 years ago.

A number of women went to police following media reports about previous claims made within the Catholic Church.

The charges related to the alleged assaults of an 11-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl at Carlingford in 1979 and 1987 and a 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy at The Entrance in 1971-2 and 1973.

Father Egan appeared frail and used a walking stick. He was supported by his lawyer and a young woman.

The court continued his bail although his reporting conditions were suspended for three weeks in June for medical reasons.

Police said the charges laid were consistent with the law at the time of the alleged offences. They were the equivalent of the modern offences indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, sexual intercourse without consent and aggravated sexual assault.

Mr Smith has also come under fire for his alleged links to the case, after a claim that he said one of Father Egan's alleged victims was "just trying to get $1 million from the church".

Mr Smith has strongly denied these claims and said he "would never suggest any victim of sexual abuse was motivated by a desire to claim a financial payout".

The matter was put over to the Downing Centre Local Court on July 18. Father Egan was excused from attending on the next occasion.