Delays in Pedophile Case Prompt Demonstration

By Craig Pearson
Windsor Star
July 21, 2012

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/Delays+pedophile+case+prompt+demonstration/6968858/story.html

A victim of convicted pedophile Rev. William Hodgson Marshall - who was scheduled to enter a plea Friday to two new counts of sexual abuse - said he is frustrated the case was delayed.

Marshall, 90, appeared briefly by video from the Joyceville Institution, near Kingston, but only to hear his lawyer Andrew Bradie ask that the matter be put over so that he has time to discuss new developments with his client. Ontario Court Justice Lloyd Dean set Sept. 4 as the next court date.

"I feel upset. Victims are kept in the dark," said Patrick McMahon, 44, who was sexually assaulted at age 13 by Marshall and who was in court Friday hoping to see the Catholic priest plead guilty to two cases involving victims from Saskatoon. "I find it very frustrating. The justice system is all about delay, delay, delay.

"It doesn't give any satisfaction to victims."

McMahon led other protesters, some victims of child sexual assault,. picketing outside Ontario Court Friday morning against what they see as lenient sentences.

McMahon also wants the Catholic Church to defrock Marshall.

"Where is the accountability of the church?" he asked. "He is a convicted child molester and a Roman Catholic priest. Shouldn't the two be mutually exclusive?"

The elderly Basilian priest and former Windsor high school principal sexually abused children dating back to 1955 when he taught at Assumption College.

Marshall has already been convicted of sexual assault on 17 children, including McMahon, who is also suing Marshall and the church for abuse between 1981 and 1985.

Marshall was ordained in 1951 and taught at Assumption College Catholic high school in 1955 and at Holy Names high school from 1985-89, where he also served as principal.