AUSTRALIA
Newcastle Herald
By JOANNE McCARTHY March 9, 2014
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE Catholic Diocese is in damage control after calls for the removal of a priest following his evidence to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry.
The diocese will meet with Catholic school principals and representatives in the Taree area in the next week after complaints about Taree priest Des Harrigan’s evidence to the inquiry and alleged behaviour at the parish.
The priest told the inquiry he bought pornography in London in 2000 depicting adult males, which he left at Lochinvar presbytery after moving to Raymond Terrace.
The two pornographic magazines were later destroyed by an unidentified person.
Father Harrigan said it was ‘‘pure stupidity’’ on his part to leave the magazines at Lochinvar but he denied claiming ownership of the material to protect fellow priest James Fletcher, who had been charged with offences against male teenagers.
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