Alleged Sex Assault Victims Named

Big Pond News
January 25, 2013

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2013/01/25/Alleged_sex_assault_victims_named_839098.html

Two alleged sexual assault victims of retired Catholic priest, Finian Egan, have waived their right to anonymity.

In the District Court in Sydney on Friday, the prosecution in the case against the 78-year-old asked that a non-publication order on the names of two of Egan's alleged victims, Nikki Wells and Kellie Roche, be lifted at their request.

In May last year, Egan was arrested and charged with 17 sexual offences that allegedly occurred between 1972 and 1987 while he was serving as a priest in parishes in Sydney and on the NSW Central Coast.

The charges relate to one boy and three girls.

In September, Egan was charged with three more counts of indecently assaulting a girl in Leichhardt, in Sydney's inner west, between 1961 and 1962.

Egan, who was not in court on Friday, has not been required to enter a plea.

Justice Reg Blanch granted the lifting of the non-publication order and adjourned the matter to February 15.

Ms Wells told AAP she had decided to allow her name to be published 'a long time ago'.

'Being silent was never an option,' she said.

'Having the opportunity to speak out is my right.'