AUSTRALIA
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The case of Fr. Richard John James Robinson, although occurring in the U.K., gives a clear indication of just how the Catholic Church has adopted the same strategy for its paedophile priests world-wide.
Robinson was shifted from parish to parish over a period of 25 years where he abused many boys, despite clear evidence that church officials knew of his offending. When, eventually, charges were mooted, the church sent him out of the country, to the U.S., in 1985.
About twenty years later, a victim tracked him down to California, but it was not possible to extradite him to the U.K. because of an American law placing a 10 year limit on extraditable offences. It was only when this law was changed, and a victim alerted U.K. authorities to that change, that Robinson was taken back to the U.K. He received a 21 year sentence for his offences, some dating back to 1959.
According to Anna Wheeler, a senior prosecutor with West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service’s Complex Casework Unit, who finally extradited Robinson back to Britain to face justice, it is likely that Robinson had offended in the 20 years he was in the U.S. She thinks more victims will eventually come forward.
In a curious fact of the U.K. justice system, two victims who came forward after Robinson’s extradition were unable to have their case prosecuted in the courts. However, they were permitted to give evidence in the case against Robinson by other victims.
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