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	RCMP Seize Bishop’s Electronic Equipment Print This Article By Erin Pottie The Cape Breton Post October 15, 2009 http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=294676&sc=145 SYDNEY — Nova Scotia RCMP seized electronic equipment from two residences and an office of Bishop Raymond Lahey who was charged in Ottawa last month with importing and possessing child pornography. Three computers and various storage devices were removed from units owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, after the execution of search warrants by members of the RCMP’s Internet child exploitation unit. Early Wednesday, RCMP combed through No. 7 apartment at 29 Xavier Dr. in Sydney. A day earlier, Lahey’s office in Antigonish and his residence for the last six years in the same town were also searched. The Cape Breton Post was unable to access the search warrants Wednesday as the Report to Justice hadn’t been filed. No additional allegations against Lahey have been laid, although Nova Scotia announced it is launching its own investigation into the bishop and his activities. Sgt. Brigdit Leger said the searches were first conducted to assist Ottawa police in their investigation. She told The Canadian Press a computer was seized in Sydney and another two computers were seized in Antigonish. RCMP say the devices that were seized will be examined by a special computer forensic unit based in Halifax. Fr. Paul Abbass, spokesperson for Diocese of Antigonish, said Lahey spent time at the 10-unit apartment complex in Sydney. “The apartments are for senior priests and traditionally, since we’ve had it, one is always reserved for the bishop to use when he is working in this area,” Abbass said via cellphone on the drive to Halifax. Abbass said he did not know whether Lahey had left any belongings at the Sydney unit, but said clergy are co-operating with RCMP. Lahey first made headlines after Canadian Border Services found “images of concern” on his laptop computer while at an Ottawa airport Sept. 15, after he returned from a trip to the United Kingdom. He was charged Sept. 25, a day before he said he resigned as bishop for personal reasons. At the time of his arrest, police seized four other media devices known as data sticks. A search warrant relating to Lahey’s laptop revealed several sexually explicit images of boys believed to be as young as eight years old. Border officials said they first became suspicious of Lahey because he was a man travelling alone and his passport showed several trips to Southeast Asia, which is home to several countries believed to be hot spots for child pornography. As the most recent bishop of the Diocese of Antigonish, Lahey, 69, had recently concluded a $15-million settlement in a civil lawsuit led by Sydney resident Ronald Martin on behalf of those alleging abuse by priests of the diocese dating as far back as Jan. 1, 1950. The Newfoundland native is currently living at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Ottawa while he awaits a Nov. 4 court date. None of the allegations against him have been proven in court.
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