Priest John Patrick Casey, 76, found guilty in Lismore District Court trial of indecently touching 14yo boy
A jury has found a Northern Rivers priest accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy guilty of one of three charges – now the ex-police chaplain is free on bail.
Police & Courts
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A jury has found a Northern Rivers priest accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy guilty of one of three charges – now the ex-police chaplain is free on bail.
Goonellabah man John Patrick Casey was found guilty by the jury of seven women and five men of indecently touching the victim at Mallanganee in the early 1980s.
But the panel in the Lismore District Court trial – which deliberated for almost 10 hours until Wednesday’s decision – were unable to decide on two additional charges: sexually assaulting a person under 16 and a second count of indecently touching a person under 16.
Casey took to the stand during the trial and denied massaging the 14-year-old, touching his genitals or digitally raping him during a sleepover at his home near Casino.
The complainant, now a man, gave evidence in a closed court, alongside a friend who also alleged Casey preyed on him around the same time, when he was aged 13.
No charges have been laid in relation to the younger alleged victim, however.
Casey has been released, with his bail continued, and the case is due to return to court for mention on December 4.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will decide whether a retrial will be held on the remaining charges.
The tension in the courtroom was palpable as Casey’s numerous supporters awaited an outcome following days of proceedings.
A jury representative told Judge Jonathan Priestley there was disagreement among the panel relating to charges before the courts.
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