Aussie paedophile arrested in NZ

3 December 2012 01:25 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A former Catholic brother, facing 252 child sex charges in Australia, has been arrested after returning to New Zealand from Sri Lanka.

Bernard Kevin McGrath, a former St John of God brother appeared in Christchurch District Court on Monday over a warrant to extradite him to Australia to face charges laid in Newcastle in June.

He was jailed for five years in 2006 for sexually abusing boys at Marylands School in Christchurch in the 1970s and paroled in 2008.

McGrath, 65, is alleged to have repeatedly raped, molested and abused dozens of young boys at church-run institutions in the Newcastle-Maitland diocese during the late 1970s and 1980s.

He was arrested on Friday after arriving in Christchurch from Sri Lanka.

Earlier in the year he flew to Sri Lanka, which does not have an extradition treaty with Australia, despite the new charges being laid.

His lawyer Phillip Allan told the court he had chosen to return to New Zealand rather than stay in Sri Lanka knowing he would be arrested upon his return, the Christchurch Court News website reports.

He was bailed on strict conditions, including a ban on contact on children aged under 16 and from coming within 100 metres of a school, despite opposition from the Crown.

His passport has been surrendered to police and he will reappear in court on December 17 (Yahoo news)

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Comments - 9

perumal Monday, 03 December 2012 02:05 AM

There may be more people to be arrested coming from Sri Lanka, in near future.

Diana Haydens Monday, 03 December 2012 02:22 AM

This criminal should not have been granted bail as he had played brutally with the lives of innocent children. On the other hand he has tarnished the good image of christianity by posing as a brother. This person should be executed in order to halt such type of crimes being commited by him.

Just Another Citizen Monday, 03 December 2012 04:50 AM

Because of people like this in all religions, people are quick to pass judgement on the entire religion & it's beliefs.

Rif Monday, 03 December 2012 05:36 AM

why cant allow the to marry?

Mohan Monday, 03 December 2012 07:05 AM

Cant we not call him a man wearing a Catholic Brother's clothing? That concession given by reporters when referring to clergy of other religions should be adopted for all.

Angel Monday, 03 December 2012 08:44 AM

He should be given the highest punishment for misusing his position in the religion to abuse innocent kids who trusted him.

Faisal Monday, 03 December 2012 09:45 AM

I hope we can investigate what is happening in church run institutions in Sri Lanka as well as they run many schools and orphanages throughout the country unsupervised.

Mims Monday, 03 December 2012 11:05 AM

Sri Lanka has been known to attract pedophiles from all over the world. One can only hope that our children will be safe.

Hobbes Tuesday, 04 December 2012 05:33 AM

Why investigate only church run institutions? Do you believe that this type of abuse does not happen in schools/orphanages run by other religious groups? If so, you are incredibly naive..!

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Aussie paedophile arrested in NZ

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