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The Evening Post
July 2, 2002
Sex-abuse claims climb
by Grant Fleming
Publicity
about two former Hutt Valley teachers, who allegedly sexually abused boys in
their care, has sparked more complaints to police.
In the past week, Upper Hutt police have detailed allegations against one of
them, former Marist priest Alan Woodcock, who may be extradited from
And Lower Hutt police have received five new complaints about an
The 74-year-old man, who has name suppression, was arrested last week and
charged with buggery and indecent assault on a boy aged between 12 and 16. The
boy was a former pupil at
Detectives are also trying to identify boys from old photographs seized from
the accused's
Detective Sergeant Glen Turner, of Lower Hutt CIB, said today the new
information was received after publicity in The Evening Post about the arrest
of the former teacher.
The five new complaints span the period 1958-92, including some that weren't
school-related.
Police are investigating the fresh reports but such work is at a preliminary
stage.
Along with efforts to identify the boys in the photos, Mr Turner said a
detective was tracking the accused's career. The
officer was trying to verify reports that the 74-year-old was teaching in the
region as late as the 1980s.
Meanwhile,
Upper Hutt CIB head Detective Sergeant Murray Porter said today that three more
alleged victims of Woodcock contacted him yesterday, lifting the number of
complaints made to police about Woodcock to six. Police are considering whether
to extradite Woodcock, 54, who is understood to be living in
Mr Porter said two of the fresh complainants were former St Patrick's College
Silverstream students - where Woodcock taught for a year in 1982 - while the
third complainant alleged abuse at a separate Catholic institution.
He said police would investigate the new complaints this week. They would then
be added to three complaints against Woodcock received in 1994 and 1995. He
hoped to make a decision by the weekend on whether to seek extradition.
Woodcock, ordained in 1972, was convicted of a sex offence against another man
in
Despite the conviction, the Order appointed him to St Patrick's Silverstream in
1982, where he had the power to summon boys to his bedroom for counselling.
He was removed at the end of the year, but returned to
He returned again in 1987, but after yet more abuse allegations he was banned
from practising ministry.
The
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WHO TO PHONE
* The Society of Mary has set up an 0800 number for
abuse victims and their families. Telephone: 0800 764-357.
* Victims of rape and sexual abuse wanting support can call the Help
Foundation. Telephone: (04) 499-7532.
* Victims of Alan Woodcock can contact
* Victims of the former