Catholic Priest Faces Abuse Charges in Victoria

TVNZ
April 25, 2013

http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/catholic-priest-faces-abuse-charges-in-victoria-5418516

Decorative scales of justice in a courtroom. - Source: Photos.com

A Catholic priest charged with sexually abusing four Victorian children more than 30 years ago has appeared briefly in court.

Julian Benedict Fox, 67, returned from Rome to face ten charges in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

Police allege Fox abused the four victims between 1976 and 1985 in Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's outer east, and in Sunbury, about 40 kilometres northwest of the city.

During a brief filing hearing, he was granted bail on the condition he reports weekly to a Melbourne police station.

He will reappear in court for a committal mention hearing on July 19.

Fox, of Ascot Vale, was living in Rome, but on Monday walked into the Victoria Police crime department headquarters in Melbourne with his lawyer to face the allegations.

Police on Monday described the priest's return to Victoria as a breakthrough in co-operation between Victoria Police and the Catholic Church.