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Accusations of Abuse in
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The Press
April 7, 2004
Brothers face group abuse charges
by Yvonne Martin
The
sexual scandal plaguing a Catholic order has taken a new twist, with
allegations that two religious brothers abused a boy together.
The allegations are cited among fresh charges laid by
Warrants to arrest the men, aged 82, 69 and 56 -- now living in
Police are trying to extradite the trio, who face a total of 64 sexual abuse
charges relating to their time working at
Complaints have been received from former pupils dating back almost 50 years.
Documents presented to the court have given the first indication of collective
abuse, in that two brothers together preyed on a schoolboy under 16.
The 69-year-old is jointly accused with another brother of sodomising the
teenage boy between 1974 and 1977.
They are also charged with committing an indecent act upon the boy and inducing
their victim to perform an indecent act over the same period.
Inquiry head Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell said police swore fresh
affidavits relating to the new charges yesterday and arrest warrants were
issued.
They would be forwarded to the Australian authorities for action, said Borrell.
The three men, who are on bail, are opposing extradition. A three-day hearing
has been set down in the
The men's lawyer, Greg Walsh, said in January that the 56-year-old priest was
gravely ill with throat cancer and the other two were also sick.
He said it was possible the complainants had an ulterior motive in making their
allegations after publicity about the Order's $NZ4.5 million payout on abuse
claims in
Eighty-two former
St John of God has also paid out more than $4 million in compensation to