Concerns a Former Priest Will Re-Offend

By Newstalk Zb Staff
Newstalk Zb
November 26, 2012

www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbint/2045432611-concerns-a-former-priest-will-re-offend

A spokesman for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse has serious concerns a former Catholic Brother will re-offend against young children in Sri Lanka.

Bernard Kevin McGrath spent two years in jail in New Zealand, but he's also wanted in New South Wales, where 252 sexual abuse charges were laid against him in June.

Authorities appear to have waited too long to file extradition procedures - and McGrath is now living on a tea plantation in Sri Lanka, where they can't get at him.

The 65-year-old former St John of God brother is alleged to have repeatedly raped, molested and abused dozens of young boys at church-run institutions in the Newcastle-Maitland diocese during the late 1970s and '80s.

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse manager Ken Clearwater believes McGrath will never return willingly.

"The fact that they can just so easily get in and out of countries is really worrying, and Sri Lanka will still have so many vulnerable young children over there that he'll have access to."