MESA (AZ)
KOLD
MESA, Ariz. For the past three years, a former Catholic priest has refused to leave his native Ireland to face two felony counts in Arizona of sexual conduct with a minor.
Now his lawyers contend Arizona doesn't meet Ireland's standards of justice.
They say in court papers that if the former Scottsdale priest is returned to Arizona, he'd be subject to no bail and harsh jail conditions _ things considered unfair in Ireland.
His lawyers also argue that Colleary could never get a fair trial because his case is so old.
Colleary moved to his native country in 2003 before a grand jury returned an indictment alleging he sexually abused an altar boy in 1978 at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Tempe.
Posted by kshaw at July 24, 2005 08:15 AM