By Tony Spears
London Free Press
December 19, 2011
http://www.lfpress.com/news/canada/2011/12/19/19145561.html
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| Ex-Bishop Raymond Lahey (left) appeared in Ottawa court Wednesday May 4, 2011 in this file photo. (TONY CALDWELL/QMI AGENCY) |
Ex-bishop Raymond Lahey's reputation is in tatters, his defence lawyer says.
"My client has, in effect, become a societal pariah," Michael Edelson said, who wants Lahey to serve the mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail.
Lahey, who hammered out a multi-million dollar settlement for victims of sexual abuse in the Catholic church, lived a "life of great deeds, good work and immense erudition, education and good character," Edelson said.
Now, "he wears the scarlet letter," Edelson said.
In his sentencing hearing Monday for Lahey, who was caught with child porn on Sept. 15, 2009, at the Ottawa airport.
He pleaded guilty to importing child porn in May.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. John Bradford testified Lahey is into sado-masochism — the submissive side.
Submissives, among other things, enjoy humiliation, he said, noting it "is relatively common."
Bradford was unshaken on a number of critical issues while on the stand: Lahey is not a pedophile, he is not a risk to the community, and he doesn't need treatment.
Bradford said the ex-bishop of Antigonish, N.S., did exhibit an interest in male youths aged about 14 to 18, as well as in men.
But Bradford warned a tendency towards this so-called "hebephilia" isn't a formal diagnosis.
"A lot of normal people show (an interest in adolescents)," he said.
The court heard Lahey had one night stands, and he had also been in a 10-year relationship with a man.
He also admitted his Internet porn addiction to Bradford.
Cops found about 155,000 porn files on his computer.
Of those, 588 were child pornography, along with about 60 videos and a collection of child porn stories. One starred "Father Raymond." Edelson is asking for two-for-one credit for Lahey's pre-sentence custody, which could see him get sentenced to time served when Judge Kent Kirkland makes his decision.
Crown prosecutor David Elhadad seeks an 18- to 22-month jail sentence and probation.
His submissions begin Tuesday.
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