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	Fourth Catholic Priest to Face Court over Alleged Historical Sexual Assaults — Newcastle Area New South Wales Police Force February 6, 2009 http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjUwMTcuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D A police strike force has charged a fourth Catholic priest with seven historical child sexual assault offences. The 47-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning by Strike Force Georgiana detectives, who are investigating a number of individuals over alleged historical sexual assaults upon young boys in the greater Newcastle area in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The man has been charged with two counts of indecent assault upon a child under the age of 16 and under authority and five counts of sexual assault upon a child under 16 and under authority. The Raymond Terrace man was granted conditional bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 11 March. The alleged offences occurred at Cessnock in the early 1990s. The man was suspended from pastoral duties in May last year, pending an investigation by the strike force. Yesterday’s arrest follows those of four other men last year, three of whom were Catholic priests. Detectives from Strike Force Georgiana have so far laid 178 charges against five people after launching the investigation in April last year. Superintendent Craig Rae, Lake Macquarie Local Area Commander, said detectives had received ongoing assistance from the Newcastle-Maitland Diocese of the Catholic Church throughout the investigation. “I would encourage anyone with further information in this matter to come forward to police in the knowledge they will be supported and their complaints investigated.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Strike Force Georgiana on 4942 9999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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