Lahey Stays in Ottawa, CBC News, October 9, 2009

Lahey Stays in Ottawa

CBC News
October 9, 2009

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2009/10/09/ottawa-lahey-ottawa-diocese.html

Bishop Raymond Lahey has been accepted to stay at the Ottawa archdiocese priests' residence.
Photo by Steve Fischer/CBC

A Nova Scotia bishop facing child pornography charges is allowed to stay in Ottawa for the time being.

Raymond Lahey, formerly head of the Antigonish diocese, must report regularly to Ottawa police under changes to his bail conditions made during a brief court hearing Friday, Det. Dan Melchiorre said at a news conference Friday morning. Previously, Lahey's bail conditions required him to live in Rogersville, N.B.

The conditions also bar Lahey from computers and the internet and being in contact with children and teenagers under the age of 18.

Lahey is being welcomed to live at a priest's residence run by the Ottawa archdiocese near Billings Bridge Shopping Centre, Ottawa's archbishop announced Thursday afternoon.

Melchiorre said police will be checking out the residence to ensure there are "no issues."

"We want to make sure that … people at the location he's staying at are aware of conditions, especially if it's a building that has wireless internet of any sort," added Melchiorre, who is with the child exploitation and sexual assault unit of the Ottawa police.

He added that he is confident that Lahey will comply with the conditions.

Melchiorre said he did not know why Lahey wanted to live in Ottawa instead of New Brunswick.

'Christian charity'

Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast sent a message to his priests Thursday afternoon explaining his "decision to welcome" Lahey to the priests' residence.

"In Christian charity, and believing that it was the action that the Lord would want us to take, I have accepted that he stay at our priests' residence on Kilborn Place," he wrote. "I thank the priests of our residence for their generous spirit in receiving him in our midst."

Lahey is to be tried in Ottawa on charges of possessing and importing child pornography, and his next court appearance is scheduled for November.

The charges were laid on Sept. 25, 10 days after Lahey's laptop was seized at the Ottawa airport.

As part of his bail conditions, Bishop Raymond Lahey must report regularly to Ottawa police and stay away from computers, the internet and children under the age of 18.

Lahey announced his retirement the next day, saying he was stepping down "for personal renewal."

Prendergast, the former archbishop of Halifax, said he is aware of the serious charges and pledges co-operation with justice officials.

However, he also said that when Lahey called the diocesan offices on Wednesday afternoon, he was "facing very few — practically no — options with respect to a residence in Ottawa."

Local resident Lindsay Karam wasn't pleased to hear the news about her new neighbour.

"I don't think it's good, I don't think it's safe for the neighbourhood. I don't think it's great that there's a school just up the road, literally five minutes from where he's staying."

Emily De La Salle, 17, and Sophie Cairns, 16, said it's also too close to the mall.

Bill Taggart, who also lives in the neighbourhood, seemed resigned to the fact that Lahey is moving in.

"I don't know whether to feel disgusted or sad about it, but I think he's gotta have a place to stay."

When asked about the concerns of nearby residents, Det. Melchiorre responded that other people have been previously charged with the same types of offences as Lahey, and that in this case "there's no charges of any sexual assault of any kind."

Lahey turned himself in to Ottawa police on Oct. 1 and was released on $9,000 bail the same day. His bail conditions currently require him to live in Rogersville, N.B., but he has indicated that he would like to live in Ottawa. He has lived there once before, while studying at St. Paul's University.