Police Work to ID Children Allegedly Found on Laptop; Lahey to Stay at Monastery under Strict Conditions
By Neco Cockburn and Andrew Seymour
Ottawa Citizen
October 1, 2009
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/bishop+released+bail+after+surrendering+child+porn+charges/2055707/story.html
OTTAWA-The Ottawa police investigation into the international child-porn importation case against a disgraced former Roman Catholic bishop is now focused on the identities and locations of the children in the images allegedly found on his computer.
The laptop belonging to Raymond Lahey was seized in September at the Ottawa airport after the former priest got off a flight from Britain.
 |
| Former Roman Catholic bishop Raymond Lahey arrives at Ottawa police headquarters on Thursday afternoon. Lahey is charged with possession and importation of child pornography. Photo by Mike Carroccetto |
Ottawa police, with the help of the RCMP, are pursuing the case after Lahey surrendered to police custody Thursday afternoon just after 1:30 p.m.
A warrant for Lahey's arrest had been issued by Ottawa police, but his attendance at the police station was expected. He has been charged with possession and importation of child pornography following a forensic examination of his computer.
The images recovered from the laptop allegedly include lewd sexual pictures of children. Police say that, along with Lahey's laptop, authorities seized a number of thumb drives — small portable plug-in devices that store digital pictures and information.
Lahey, appointed bishop in 2003 by the late Pope John Paul II, was not targeted by police, rather was flagged after a random check by Canadian border agents who considered him suspicious.
The priest, who studied in Rome and Ottawa, testified in court years ago about events surrounding the notorious child sex abuse ring at Mount Cashel orphanage in St. John's. He was never implicated in that case.
Lahey resigned abruptly from the Roman Catholic church on the weekend, saying it was time for personal renewal, and he asked for prayers.
His arrest shocked his former parishioners in Antigonish, N.S., where in August he was publicly credited for his "courage" in helping broker a $15-million out of court settlement for sex abuse victims in his diocese.
On Thursday, Lahey flew from New Brunswick to Ottawa, where he met with an associate of his lawyer, the prominent Ottawa attorney Michael Edelson.
Lahey then went to his lawyer's downtown office before hopping into a black Porsche SUV and heading to the police station, where Edelson cleared a path through a media horde.
Wearing a button-down shirt and sweater under a tan jacket, a grim-faced Lahey said nothing as he entered police headquarters. Edelson also refused comment.
oon after entering police custody, Const. Alain Boucher said Lahey was "being processed," meaning the charges against him were read prior to the standard procedure of fingerprinting and photos.
A few hours later, he was in Ottawa court, where he spoke briefly to the justice of the peace who granted his release on $9,000 cash bail and imposed several strict conditions.
"Mr. Lahey, do you understand the conditions?" asked Justice of the Peace Richard Sculthorpe.
"Yes, I do, your worship," Lahey replied.
"Are you prepared to abide by them?" asked Sculthorpe.
"I am indeed," said Lahey, who sat throughout much of the hearing with his arms crossed in front of him in the prisoner's box.
Lahey was released less than three hours after turning himself in.
Prior to the hearing, Sculthorpe asked Edelson if he was in court for the "big emergency." Sculthorpe also offered to stay until 5 p.m., when court closes, to sign Lahey's release papers after Edelson's office had to make arrangements to get the cash needed to secure Lahey's release.
Assistant Crown attorney David Elhadad did not oppose Lahey's release, so long as he agreed to abide by what Elhadad described as "rather strict" release conditions.
Edelson told Sculthorpe he was aware of some of the evidence in the case, although none was presented in court.
Following his release, Lahey quietly left court alongside two of Edelson's associates, walking down and eventually crossing Elgin Street as TV cameras recorded his every step.
Under his conditions, Lahey may not possess pornographic material and may not possess or use a computer or any device that can access the Internet, such as cellphones with browsing capabilities.
He is barred from Internet cafés or anywhere that Internet services can be obtained for a fee or free of charge.
Lahey is prohibited from using or possessing a web cam or external hard drive, and may not use any online chat lines, including MSN and Twitter, or file transferring services and e-mail.
He cannot possess any software that would allow data to be hidden or erased, or any items that can store digital media, such as thumb drives.
Lahey was ordered not to attend any public park, library or place that may be frequented by people under age 18.
He must not be alone with anyone younger than 18 unless the young person's parent is present.
Lahey will be required to live at Les Pères Trappistes in Rogersville, N.B., and must report bi-weekly to the local RCMP detachment. Edelson told Sculthorpe that the "large" residence Lahey will be residing in does have Internet access, but it would not be readily available to him.
Lahey's next court date is Nov. 4, but Edelson may appear on his behalf.
gdimmock@thecitizen.canwest.com; ncockburn@thecitizen.canwest.com; aseymour@thecitizen.canwest.com
Catholics shocked by charges
Shock rippled through the Catholic community as the stunning case continued to unfold in Ottawa.
Anthony Mancini, the archbishop of Halifax and the most senior Roman Catholic in Nova Scotia, told a news conference in the Diocese of Antigonish Thursday afternoon that he wanted to "give today a pastoral message of care and concern and support for all who have been touched by the events of these last few days."
Mancini said it was not his role to speak about Lahey or to speculate about the allegations.
"I would like to say that I am here as a bishop. I am not a lawyer, I'm not a judge, nor am I a policeman. So I don't really have any answers to any questions that might be surfaced that have to do with some of those particular concerns that you may have."
Ginette Chaumont, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Ottawa, said Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, the former archbishop of Halifax, would not comment on Lahey's case.
Archbishop James Weisgerber, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that while shocked and saddened by the allegations against Lahey, he could not comment on them.
"At the same time, I share with all Canadians, and particularly my Catholic brothers and sisters, a profound understanding of the importance of such serious charges being fully and carefully investigated by the appropriate legal authorities," Weisgerber said in a statement on the group's website.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.