Former Catholic Priest Hit with 64 More Charges Relating to Child Sex Assault

By Simon Black
Perth Now
May 8, 2013

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/national/former-catholic-priest-hit-with-64-more-charges-relating-to-child-sex-assault/story-fndo4gtr-1226637594875

A FORMER Catholic priest who is facing a slew of charges relating to alleged child assault offences has been hit with an additional 64 charges during an appearance before Armidale Local Court today.

The 59-year-old man, known only as "the man" due to legal reasons, was due to appear on charges relating to alleged child-sex offences against six boys and three girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

During this appearance he was charged with an additional 64 offences including 11 counts of sexual intercourse without consent; 52 counts of indecent assault; and one count of committing an act of indecency.

The new charges relate to alleged assaults against one boy and two girls, aged from nine to 19, between 1982 and 1985 in Moree, Narrabri, Inverell and Armidale and come as part of ongoing investigations by Strike Force Glenroe, which was established in July last year to investigate claims of sexual abuse by the former priest, and comprises detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad and the New England and Barwon Local Area Commands.

The man is also at the centre of allegations of cover-ups of sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church after he told a court in 2004 he had made an admission to clergy in 1992 that he had performed oral sex on boys.

He was defrocked in 2005 but continued to live in Armidale before being arrested in October last year. 

Strike Force Glenroe investigations are ongoing and detectives urge anyone with information to assist them to come forward.

The man will reappear at Armidale Local Court on 3 July 2013.

Any person who has been a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, is encouraged to make a report at their local police station.

Anyone with information about sexual abuse should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000