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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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The Dominion Post
March 14, 2003

Extradition appeal delayed

A former New Zealand priest accused of sexually abusing children has received an extra two weeks to appeal against his extradition from Britain.

Alan Woodcock, 54, is accused of indecently assaulting teenage boys at Silverstream in Upper Hutt, Wellington, and Palmerston North between 1982 and 1985 while working as a teacher.

The former Marist priest was arrested in London in August last year.

Detective Sergeant Murray Porter of Upper Hutt said Britain's Home Office had extended Woodcock's appeal deadline to March 26, because his appeal for legal aid had not been heard.

He said the Legal Services Commission, who grant legal aid, had a four- to six-week backlog of applications. In an e-mail received from the Home Office yesterday morning, Mr Porter was told that Woodcock's application had not yet been heard.

"If he does get granted free legal aid in the short term, we can probably expect an appeal to be lodged," he said.

An appeal could delay his extradition by up to two years.

Mr Porter said the delay was frustrating for everybody concerned.

He had contacted the complainants to let them know of the delay.

"I just feel sorry for the complainants. They're getting frustrated with the system. (It) just seems to be so slow," he said.