Perth priest pleads guilty to child sex offences dating back decades

By Joanna Menagh
ABC News
April 15, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-15/perth-priest-pleads-guulty-to-historic-child-sex-offences/5391102

A Catholic priest in Perth has pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting two young girls in offences dating back decades.

Patrick Holmes, 79, indecently assaulted a girl aged about 12 in the Perth suburb of Shenton Park in 1980.

The offences occurred when the girl visited the presbytery at St Aloysius Church after school.

Holmes also assaulted a girl aged seven while working at the Catholic Holy Name Church in Carlisle in 1969.

Holmes pleaded guilty to six indecent dealing charges.

He has been released on bail until he faces court again in June.

The Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe, has expressed his dismay at Holmes' betrayal of the girls' trust in him.

He said Patrick Holmes is a member of the Order of St Camillus who has served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Perth for many years.

In a statement, he said:

"The crimes committed by Father Holmes will have had a devastating effect on his victims, their families and their friends.

"I know the Camillian Fathers would want to express their deep sorrow and heartfelt apology to those who have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of Fr Holmes' actions.

"I want to express my own dismay at Father Holmes' betrayal of these women's trust in him when they were young girls and, because he was working as a priest in our Archdiocese at the time, I also want to offer my own sincere apology.

"Child sexual abuse is a serious crime as well as a betrayal of everything the Catholic Church stands for.

"I am deeply ashamed that people have been subjected to this terrible experience by those whom they trusted and from whom they had an absolute right to expect integrity, decency and impeccable behaviour.

The Archdiocese said it had cooperated fully with the police in their investigation.