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Accusations of Abuse in Institutions

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Dominion Post
January 19, 2004

Extradited priest back in NZ
by Kim Ruscoe

The former Wellington Catholic priest extradited from England to face child-sex assault charges is back in New Zealand.

Alan Woodcock is being held in the Upper Hutt police cells till his court appearance tomorrow.

Woodcock has lived in England since the late 1980s.

A High Court decision issued from London in November ruled the 55-year-old must return to New Zealand to face 19 child-sex assault charges involving 12 boys over more than 20 years

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

Woodcock argued unsuccessfully that it would be impossible for him to have a fair trial if extradited, and that the length of time between the alleged offences and current legal proceedings meant he should not have to return.

Constable Atkin, of Upper Hutt, said Woodcock had been "very quiet" since his arrival on Saturday. Other than being provided with three meals a day, Woodcock had been left to his own devices and was not under any special watch conditions, he said.

Woodcock moved to London in 1990, where he trained as an adult therapist before taking a job providing counselling and crisis intervention for passengers and staff at Heathrow Airport.

He has not worked as a priest since 1995 and gave up the priesthood last year