Priest Charged with Concealing Sex Offence

Adelaide Now
January 4, 2013

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/priest-charged-with-concealing-sex-offence/story-e6frea7l-1226547689050

Police have charged a retired priest with concealing the child sex offences of another man in NSW. Source: AAP

A RETIRED priest has been charged with concealing the child sex offences of another man in NSW dating back to the early 1980s.

The 81-year-old is also accused of being an accessory before the fact to the indecent assault of a nine-year-old boy.

Police allege the victim was molested at a premises in Nelson Bay, on the NSW north coast, and at a beach at Newcastle.

The offences allegedly occurred between 1982 and 1984.

Strike Force Georgiana received information in June 2012 about the allegations.

On Friday, the retired priest attended a Newcastle police station and was charged with the offences.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on January 29.

It is understood he is the second Australian to be charged with allegedly covering up child sex offences of another man.