Wanted Pedophile Suspect Taught in B.C. Christopher Paul Neil, Subject of Manhunt, Alleged to Have Sexually Abused Children Abroad, by Meagan Fitzpatrick, Times Colonist, October 17, 2007

Wanted Pedophile Suspect Taught in B.C.
Christopher Paul Neil, Subject of Manhunt, Alleged to Have Sexually Abused Children Abroad

By Meagan Fitzpatrick
Times Colonist
October 17, 2007

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e4796685-4cc9-4baa-8758-f483c9cc7edc

The Canadian man at the centre of an international manhunt over allegations of sexually abusing children abroad had worked as a substitute teacher in B.C. this year, and had wanted to be a priest.

The family of Christopher Paul Neil, 32, of Maple Ridge say they are devastated by the allegations and want him to surrender to authorities.

Neil has been identified by Interpol as the man wanted in the sexual abuse of a dozen young boys in Vietnam and Cambodia. He spent the last several years teaching in various Asian countries and, until last week, was working in South Korea. Police believe he fled to Bangkok on Oct. 11 when he realized he was being hunted.

Interpol released this security-camera photograph in a worldwide appeal to locate a suspected pedophile, now identified as Christopher Paul Neil.

Neil returned to B.C. this spring, doing five days of substitute teaching at Archbishop Carney Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, said Paul Schratz of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.

"We're upset by what we're hearing," Schratz said. "A criminal-record check was done before he was allowed to teach, and it showed no relevant records. There were no complaints from the school after he taught."

Neil's younger brother, Matthew, said since learning of the allegations last week the family has felt a range of emotions, including shock, devastation and anger.

"I would like to say, 'Chris, turn yourself in. You know, get back into Canada. This is where you should be to answer these allegations,' " he told reporters yesterday outside his home in Maple Ridge.

Matthew, 30, said he hasn't heard anything from Neil since he left Canada for Korea on Aug. 15. "Once he gets set up where he gets teaching, he'll generally call and let us know where he is and have a contact, however he has not yet done that," he said.

He said it was hard to believe the man identified by Interpol was his brother but RCMP officers visited the family and showed them photos that they now believe to be "the likeness of my brother."

"Our thoughts go out to the victims," he said.

Interpol identified Neil after releasing photos of the suspect on its website last week and receiving more than 350 tips about the man. Security cameras at Bangkok's airport captured images of the man believed to be Neil and he is thought to still be in Thailand's capital.

Neil had been teaching Grades 7-8 Language Arts and Social Studies at Kwangju Foreign School in South Korea for less than two months, a staff member at the school said, adding Neil was not involved in extracurricular activities and was always professional. "His leaving was a shock to teachers and students, since we expected him to stay at the school until his contract expired next year," said the source, who did not want to be identified.

Schratz said Neil attended the Seminary of Christ the King at Westminster Abbey in Mission during the 1990s. "He was not recommended for the priesthood and left. Obviously being a priest is a rigorous and demanding lifestyle and it's up to seminary instructors to make that recommendation," he said.

Neil once applied to teach at St. Patrick's School in Maple Ridge, but he wasn't qualified and his application was denied, said parish priest Father Richard Au. Mykle Ludvigsen, spokesman for the B.C. College of Teachers, said Neil does not hold a teaching certificate and has never taught in a B.C. public school.

Education Minister Shirley Bond said the Teachers' Certification Committee for independent schools reviewed Neil's certification yesterday. "That meeting has resulted in a recommendation to the inspector of independent schools," said Bond. "This individual's teaching certificate is now suspended pending further investigation."

Neil could be extradited to Canada and face a range of sexual assault charges, RCMP said. Under Canada's sex tourism law, citizens can be prosecuted for committing sexual offences outside Canadian borders.