Former Catholic Brother Bailed over Sex Charges

By Giselle Wakatama
ABC News
December 3, 2012

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-03/bail-for-former-catholic-brother-facing-child-sex-charges/4404648

Bernard Kevin McGrath is facing extradition to Australia.

A former Catholic brother has been granted bail in New Zealand after returning to face hundreds of child-sex charges relating to matters in Australia.

Bernard Kevin McGrath, 65, has been charged with 252 child sex offences and is facing extradition to Australia.

The offences relate to his time as a brother with the St John of God Catholic order at the Kendall Grange home for boys at Morisset, south of Newcastle.

The ABC has been told there are 35 alleged victims.

One of them says he is traumatised.

"You never actually get over it," he said.

"You were living in a nightmare."

McGrath recently left New Zealand and flew to Sri Lanka but police deny he was fleeing, saying he was only there for a holiday.

He returned to New Zealand last week and faced court in Christchurch today.

He has been granted conditional bail and is due back in court in two weeks.

It prompted a disappointed response from one of his alleged victims.

"Someone like that shouldn't be given bail due to the fact that there are so many people involved," he said.