Lismore Priest Arrested 90 Minutes before Crescent Head Tribute ...

By Ashlee Mullany
Daily Telegraph
July 11, 2015

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A CATHOLIC priest based at a primary school and working part-time as a police chaplain is in custody after being charged with historic child sex offences.

Father John Patrick Casey was arrested 90 minutes before he was due to deliver a speech at a police ceremony for the 20th anniversary of the Crescent Head murders on Thursday.

Casey, a priest with the Lismore diocese, was arrested by Richmond detectives on Thursday morning following a five-month investigation into claims of sexual abuse.

The 67-year-old is accused of sexually assaulting two boys, aged nine and 11, while serving with the Lismore diocese in the 1980s.

NSW Police confirmed Casey was working as a chaplain with the force providing “spiritual welfare” and support to officers when he was arrested this week.

He was based at the church linked to the Mary Help of Christians Primary School in Sawtell, south of Coffs Harbour.