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The Dominion
July 2, 2002
Police may extradite ex-priest on sex claims
by Glen Scanlon
New
Zealand Police are reconsidering whether to extradite from England a former
Catholic priest accused of abusing teenage boys, as the number of complaints
about the clergy mounts.
The review of the file follows revelations that Marist priest Alan Woodcock, a
music teacher at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, in the 1980s, allegedly
sexually abused four boys before being removed from the school.
It is alleged that Woodcock molested at least eight boys or young men during
his 20 years as a priest. It is believed senior figures in his order, the
Society of Mary, were told at least three times. Woodcock was moved several
times and sent for treatment before being suspended in 1987.
Upper Hutt CIB head Detective Sergeant Murray Porter said yesterday that police
had received a sex abuse complaint against Woodcock from
Mr Porter said at the time that two other alleged victims had complained.
He would contact Mr Carter and the detective who handled the original
complaints in the next two days. The detective had left the police.
Mr Porter said his review of the file would be completed by tomorrow.
If he believed the evidence was sufficient he would forward the file to
Interpol staff at police national headquarters for consideration.
He would also lay charges in Upper Hutt District Court.
He expected that a decision on extradition would be made quickly.
Meanwhile, Society of Mary spokesman Father Denis O'Hagan said yesterday that
new allegations had been received over an 0800 phone
number set up for victims to report abuse.
They would be followed up but had not yet been reported to police, he said.