Fr Bob Shocked by Accusations against Fellow Priest

By Shannon Deery
Courier Mail
June 27, 2013

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/fr-bob-shocked-by-accusations-against-fellow-priest/story-fnii5smp-1226671011902

Fr Bob Maguire has been shocked by allegations a fellow priest at his parish is guilty of sexually abusing a boy. Picture: Andrew Henshaw Source: Herald Sun

HIGH-profile priest Father Bob Maguire has been drawn into the Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis after it was alleged an altar boy from one of his former parishes was the victim of abuse.

The 11-year-old was an altar boy where Fr Maguire was stationed in the early 1970s and says he was abused by another priest after doing odd jobs at his home for pocket money.

The alleged abuse did not happen at the parish church or home where Fr Maguire lived. There have been no allegations levelled at Fr Maguire.

A retired priest in his 80s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on Wednesday was committed to stand trial in the County Court over the allegations.

Fr Maguire last night told the Herald Sun he was rocked by the allegations levelled at a man he had known since the 1960s.

He said he was heavily involved with the parish's youth group at the time and said there were never "any rumours or whispers" of any sort of sexual abuse.

"I would have told them to go straight to the coppers," he said.

"No one said anything to me."

Fr Maguire said he was saddened and disappointed that, if any abuse did occur, the alleged victim did not raise it with him. "I'd be sorry if someone involved with us couldn't come to us," he said.

On Wednesday, the alleged perpetrator pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecently assaulting the 11-year-old in the early 1970s. He also pleaded not guilty to one charge of buggery.

In a police statement tendered in court the victim said he was paid between $1.50 and $2 to do odd jobs around the priest's home on Saturday mornings.

He alleged that on one Saturday the priest "took me straight into his lounge room and sat me on the couch".

The victim alleged the man "cuddled me and tried to kiss me on the lips. He wouldn't let me go. I remember being frozen with fear and was scared of what was happening."

The victim alleged the man then took him to his bedroom, where he undressed him and abused him further.

He then made him take confession again before ordering "this event should never be talked about with anybody", it was alleged.

The alleged victim said he only told his family in 2010 after learning the priest was to preside over a family funeral.

A trial is expected to start in June next year.

Contact: Shannon.deery@news.com.au