Priest Child-Sex Case Delayed Due to 'Continuing Health' Reasons

By Rosanne Barrett
The Australian
May 13, 2013

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/priest-child-sex-case-delayed-due-to-continuing-health-reasons/story-e6frg6nf-1226640970062

A RETIRED priest facing 57 child-sex charges did not appear in a southeast Queensland court this morning amid "continuing health" reasons, a committal court has heard.

The case of the former southeast Queensland Catholic priest, 77, was adjourned to July 8 in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court this morning.

His barrister Barry Ryan requested the two-month adjournment citing "continuing health'' reasons.

"I ask an adjournment for some months to allow my client's health to improve,'' he said.

Mr Ryan handed a medical certificate to Magistrate Joan White but it was not read out in the court.

The priest, who cannot be named under Queensland law, was charged in March with 57 counts of indecent dealing and one count of common assault dating from the 1970s and 1980s.

It followed a police investigation into allegations from Queensland schools over more than a decade, as revealed in The Australian last year.

Sixteen counts relate to a boy under 14; six relate to a girl under 16; and another one count pertains to a girl under 14. There are 34 charges that relate to a third girl who was younger than 14 for some of the charges and under 16 for others.

When the priest was charged his lawyer at the time said he was in hospital. Mr Ryan today refused to answer whether the priest remained in court.

The priest had a long career with the Catholic Church in Queensland and worked in a number of schools in the state.

In March a spokesman for Catholic Education said the man retired many years ago. "(He) has not had contact with schools since then,'' he said.

Church leaders have reiterated their "zero tolerance'' to sexual abuse.