Former priest faces jail over Kew sex assault of boy 40 years ago, by Adam Cooper, Brisbane Times (July 1, 2014)

An 88-year-old former priest faces the prospect of being jailed after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a boy more than 40 years ago.

James Henry Scannell was on Tuesday found guilty by a jury of one charge of buggery following a trial in the County Court last week. The jury had deliberated since last Thursday.

The court was told Scannell sexually assaulted the boy at the man’s then home in Kew between August 1970 and July 1972 when the child was aged between 11 and 13.

The boy was told by Scannell to have a shower and give confession after he was assaulted, the court heard.

It was not until 2010 that the victim told relatives of the assault, the court heard, after he learnt Scannell was to conduct the funeral for the victim’s aunt.

Scannell pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His defence team claimed the evidence of the victim - now aged 55 - was not credible, as he had been unable to say for sure whether sexual penetration had occurred, and therefore whether the offence took place.

Judge David Parsons granted Scannell bail to return to court on August 1 for a pre-sentence hearing.