Perth Catholic priest Father Patrick Holmes ...

Perth Now
July 24, 2014

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-catholic-priest-father-patrick-holmes-sentenced-to-three-years-jail-for-child-sex-offences/story-fnhocxo3-1227000227762

Father Patrick Holmes, 79, has been jailed after admitting to six child sex charges.

A CATHOLIC priest has been sentenced to three years in jail after admitting to indecently assaulting two young girls in the Perth parishes where he worked.

The District Court of Western Australia heard on Thursday that the six offences committed by Father Patrick Holmes occurred in Carlisle in 1969 when his victim was aged seven and in 1980-1982 in Subiaco when his victim was aged 10-11.

Holmes was aged 34 and 45-46 respectively at the time.

The court heard the first complainant was a student at the primary school next to his church.

She would regularly visit him after school and was given treats and cash in return for her co-operation and silence.

The court heard he placed his hand down her pants and also rubbed his crotch against hers.

The other victim’s breasts, vagina and buttocks were touched, and she was given treats.

Judge Henry John Wisbey said Holmes, 79, had abused his position of trust, authority and pastoral regard, and exploited the naivety and young age of his victims.

The abuse had had an extremely significant and long-lasting adverse psychological impact on his victims, Judge Wisbey said.

The only mitigating factor in sentencing was that Holmes had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had co-operated with police.

Judge Wisbey said he accepted that the priest’s remorse was genuine.

Holmes, who was removed from his parish in 2000 when the first complaint was made, had been a highly regarded member of the community and had made a significant contribution to it when he was not offending, Judge Wisbey said.

But the indecent assaults had effectively set that good work aside.

Judge Wisbey said an immediate term of imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence, and took into account Holmes’ old age and low risk of reoffending.

Holmes will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months behind bars.

The mother of one of the victims said the outcome of the case was a relief.

After the sentence, a spokesperson for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth said “our thoughts today are with the two women who showed such courage in coming forward to tell police their stories of how they suffered as a result if Fr Holmes’ deplorable actions more than 30 years ago.”

“Today, justice has been done as a result of their honesty and tenacity.

“The Catholic Church across Perth is wholly committed to confronting with openness and honesty the failures of the past and to cooperating fully with police, as it has done in this case, in all matters relating to child sexual abuse.

“We also remain committed to doing all we can to continue to ensure that our communities are places of absolute safety for all, especially children and young people.

“We continue to urge anyone who wishes to make a complaint or allegation of child sexual abuse against a Catholic priest, religious or lay worker to take the matter directly to the police.”

The spokesperson said the Catholic Church’s Professional Standards Office in WA was also ready to help anyone who has a complaint to make.