Police Charge Former Priest with 25 Child-sex Offences

Coolum News
October 18, 2012

http://www.coolum-news.com.au/news/police-charge-former-priest-25-child-sex-offences/1588165/

A FORMER Catholic priest is facing 25 charges relating to historic child-sex offences after he was arrested in Armidale on Thursday morning.

The state's Sex Crimes Squad formed Strike Force Glenroe in July to investigate allegations of child sexual abuse.

About 6.30am on Thursday detectives attached to Strike Force Glenroe and New England Local Area Command arrested a 59-year-old man.

He was taken to Armidale Police Station and later charged with a string of offences.

The alleged acts were committed against three girls in the 1970s and 1980s.

Police called on the victims of any sexual assault, no matter how long ago, to come forward.

The charges were as follows:

Three counts of indecent assault against female, and two counts of sexual assault category 3 - sexual intercourse without consent.

Police will allege these offences were committed between 1979 and 1984 against a girl aged 11-15.

Act of indecency with a girl under 16 years; four counts of indecent assault of female; five counts of sexual assault (category 3) - sexual intercourse without consent; four counts of sexual assault (category 4) - indecent assault; and two counts of sexual assault (category 4) - act of indecency.

It will be alleged these offences took place between 1975 and 1988 against a girl aged 5-18.

Two counts of sexual assault (category 4) - indecent assault; one count of sexual assault (category 4) - act of indecency with party under 16 years; and one count of sexual assault (category 3)- sexual intercourse without consent; party under 16 years of age.

Police will allege these offences were committed between 1984 and 1986 against a girl aged 10 to 11.