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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Dominion Post
August 8, 2002

Former priest arrested on sex charges
by Mark Stevens

A former Catholic priest accused of serial sex crimes against boys in the Wellington region was to appear in a London court early today to face an extradition hearing.

New Zealander Alan Woodcock was arrested yesterday by the Metropolitan Police's extradition squad.

Woodcock, formerly of Upper Hutt, was sought for alleged indecencies on male students in the Hutt Valley, Wellington and Palmerston North areas in the early 1980s.

Upper Hutt police obtained evidence from nine complainants, many former students at St Patrick's College in Silverstream, where he taught.

Woodcock, 54, was returning to England from Greece when he was arrested at Luton airport.

Detective Sergeant Murray Porter, of Upper Hutt, CIB, said if he agreed to be extradited, he would be escorted back to New Zealand within a fortnight to answer charges. "If he contests extradition, the process could take several months."

Woodcock, ordained a Marist priest in 1972, was appointed to St Patrick's in 1982 and worked in the music department.

Society of Mary spokesman Father Tim Duckworth said three sixth-form boys alleged Woodcock had fondled them that year. Despite their claims, he was allowed to stay till the end of the year. He was also alleged to have abused another student, who was 15 at the time.

Woodcock was moved to Palmerston North, though not in a teaching role.

After other complaints, he was shifted several times, ending up in Ireland, where he took a job in 1991. He was barred from practising in the ministry in 1987.