Vic Priest Accused of 1970s Abuse

Sky News
June 25, 2014

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/2014/06/26/vic-priest-accused-of-1970s-abuse.html

An alleged victim was compelled to come forward after 40 years of silence by the prospect of his aunt's funeral being conducted by the priest he says sexually abused him as a boy.

James Henry Scannell, 88, is accused of luring an altar boy to the bedroom of his Melbourne home in the early 1970s and sexually assaulting him.

When Scannell agreed to conduct the funeral of the boy's aunt in 2010, the alleged victim told his family to find another priest, prosecutor Kristie Churchill said.

The former altar boy, now aged in his 50s, approached police just months later, Ms Churchill told Scannell's Victorian County Court trial.

Scannell has pleaded not guilty to buggery.

He is accused of assaulting the 12-year-old boy on one of the occasions he came to his Kew home to perform chores for pocket money.

Ms Churchill said Scannell, wearing nothing but a dressing gown, took the boy's hand and led him to his bedroom.

He told the boy to undress and ordered him to kneel on the bed where he sexually assaulted him, Ms Churchill said.

He is accused of ordering the boy to take a shower then sending him home in tears, telling him never to speak of what happened.

The retired Catholic priest was stationed at St Anne's church in East Kew, where the victim served as an altar boy and attended with his aunt.

Defence barrister Max Perry told the jury the only way they could convict Scannell would be to "uncritically accept the evidence of the complainant".

He said the complainant was unclear on details of the room in which the alleged abuse occurred and said he had initially told police it was a "Father Scanlon" rather than Scannell.

Mr Perry labelled the witness unreliable given he could not be certain if penetration had actually occurred.

The jury is retiring on Thursday morning to consider a verdict.