Vic Priest Jailed for Abusing Altar Boy

By Joel Cresswell
Daily Telegraph
August 7, 2014

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/vic-priest-jailed-for-abusing-altar-boy/story-fni0xqi3-1227016601391

A MELBOURNE Catholic priest has been jailed for abusing an altar boy during a sexual education lesson more than 40 years ago.

PRIEST James Henry Scannell was asked by a long-time friend and member of his East Kew parish to discuss puberty with her nephew in the early 1970s.

Instead, Scannell, wearing only a dressing gown, led the boy into his bedroom, stripped him naked and sexually abused him.

Victorian County Court Judge David Parsons on Thursday jailed Scannell for two years, telling the 88-year-old he had abused his position of authority.

"You abused the trust they placed in you in a most shocking way," he told Scannell.

A jury last month found Scannell guilty of buggery, a crime he still denies.

He must serve 12 months before he becomes eligible for parole.

The victim came forward in 2010 when he learnt Scannell was to conduct his aunt's funeral.

"If he's going to the funeral, then I can't go," the victim told his family.

The victim said he had lost his religion the day he was abused and never returned to church, where he had served as an altar boy.

Scannell was arrested and interviewed in 2011 but denied the claims.

He continued to work as a priest until 2013 when the church stood him down from his duties, pending the outcome of his trial.

In a career as a priest dating to the 1960s, Scannell has worked in schools, hospitals and parishes across Melbourne and Geelong.

Bernard Barrett from victims group Broken Rites said the sentence was vindication for the victim, and posed more questions for the Catholic Church.

"He's been a priest for the last 50 years working in the Melbourne archdiocese including working with disabled children," he said outside court.

"Questions need to be asked why and how this sort of thing could've happened."