Ex-priest in Nsw Court over Abuse Claims

NZ City
November 23, 2017

http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=259700

A former priest extradited from New Zealand on Wednesday is expected to appear via audio-visual link in a Sydney court.

A former Catholic priest is expected to apply for bail in a Sydney court following his extradition from New Zealand on historical child sex charges.

The 58-year-old's matter was mentioned briefly in the city's Central Local Court on Wednesday afternoon.

He's been charged with sexual and indecent assaults in the late 1980s against seven males aged between 14 and 20.

He was originally arrested at his Hamilton home in New Zealand in late July after Sydney detectives received a referral in 2014 from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

It's alleged the assaults were linked to an educational facility in Dundas in western Sydney.

The man did not appear before court on Wednesday but his lawyer indicated there would be a "probable release application" on Thursday when he reappeared via audio-visual link in the same court.

He's also requested his name be suppressed due to the nature of the allegations and "potential prejudice" in the event he is granted bail.