Ex-Armidale Priest Charged with 35 Extra Child Assault Offences

By Online Editor
Armidale Express
January 23, 2013

http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/story/1253153/ex-armidale-priest-charged-with-35-extra-child-assault-offences/?cs=12

A former Catholic priest has today been charged with 35 additional offences relating to alleged historical child assault offences in the 1980s. Photo: Fairfax

A former Catholic priest has today been charged with 35 additional offences relating to alleged historical child assault offences in the 1980s.

The 59-year-old man faced Armidale Local Court today (Wednesday 23 January 2013) on 25 charges relating to alleged child-sex offences against three female children in the 1970s and 1980s.

During his appearance, the man was additionally charged with 35 offences relating to alleged assaults against six boys, aged 11 and 12, between 1981 and 1984.

They include nine counts of sexual assault; 25 counts of indecent assault; and one count of common assault. The boys were all altar boys at the Moree Diocese at the time of the alleged assaults.

The man was also charged with not having approved storage (for a firearm).

He remains on conditional bail to reappear at Armidale Local Court on a future date.

Today’s new charges follow ongoing investigations by Strike Force Glenroe which was established in July last year and comprises detectives from the Sex Crimes Squad and New England Local Area Command.

Strike Force Glenroe investigations are ongoing and detectives urge anyone with information to assist them to come forward.

State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of experienced detectives dedicated to investigating crimes of a sexual nature, regardless of the passage of time. Any person who has been a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the incident occurred, is encouraged to make a report at their local police station.