Former Priest Facing More Charges

ABC News
October 31, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-31/priest-facing-more-charges/4343882

Former Newcastle priest John Sidney Denham facing more charges. Photo by Mario Alberto Magallanes Trejo

Another alleged victim of a defrocked Hunter Valley priest has gone to police, complaining of child sex abuse.

70-year-old John Sidney Denham is already accused of abusing 14 boys in the 1970s, mainly at a Newcastle Catholic High School.

Newcastle Local Court has today been told of another alleged victim from the same school.

The defrocked priest is now facing 51 charges including indecent assault and buggery, after two additional charges were laid.

When telling the court of the new complainant, prosecutor Hamish Fitzhardinge said he needed a month to obtain a brief of evidence in relation to that person.

Meanwhile the case of the now deceased former school principal accused of covering up some of Denham's alleged crimes was also mentioned.

Father Tom Brennan was the first person in Australia to be charged with covering up clerical abuse offences.

He died several weeks ago, with the court told his matter will not be proceeding.

A death certificate was tendered in court, formally ending the prosecution against Brennan.