Priest, ex-police chaplain John Patrick Casey, 76, fighting allegations he sexually abused 14-year-old boy in Northern Rivers

A Northern Rivers NSW priest’s future now rests in the hands of a jury who are deciding if he is guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. Here’s the latest.

John Patrick Casey, 76, has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy in the early ‘80s.

A Northern Rivers priest’s future rests in the hands of a jury who are deciding if he is guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in the early 1980s.

Goonellabah man John Patrick Casey, an ex-police chaplain, will soon find out the decision of the seven women and five men on the jury in Lismore District Court.

The 76-year-old has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a person under 16.

Jurors were sent for deliberations on Monday afternoon and are due to reveal their decision to Judge Jonathan Priestley.

The tension in the courtroom has been evident as supporters of the alleged victim and Casey await the decision.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the court the victim’s 13-year-old friend also alleged Casey sexually abused him, however, charges have not eventuated in relation to that.

Casey took to the stand and refuted allegations he massaged the older boy, touched his genitals or digitally raped him during a sleepover at his home near Casino, involving alcohol.

The complainant and his friend, now men, gave evidence in a closed court.

On Monday, defence lawyer Jason Watts told the court the friend said he could not recall seeing the complainant being assaulted.

John Patrick Casey, 76, has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a boy in the early 1980s.

It was alleged by the prosecution Casey told the 14-year-old boy that the 13-year-old was in another room “waiting for his special massage”.

Mr Watts argued the conversation did not happen and the boys had not been alone with Casey.

Ms Franklin told the court the boys did spend time alone with the priest, which is why the friend would have missed seeing alleged offending.

Mr Watts acknowledged the alleged victim told his mum to stop talking about Casey because had not been nice to him.

The defence argued Casey gave the teens alcohol and cigarettes because he preferred them to engage in the illegal activities under supervision.

It’s alleged the 14-year-old was sexually abused in the priest’s home near Casino in the early 1980s. Picture: File/Josh Hanrahan

“He did not shy away from those facts,” Mr Watts said.

Casey allowed the younger boy to drive his car unsupervised and a crash occurred, the court heard earlier.

Witnesses in the trial included a police officer who took the alleged victim’s statement in 2021. But the court was closed to the public and media during much of the evidence.

Judge Priestley told the jury allegations related to the early ‘80s and offending was not alleged beyond that time.

“A delay in a complaint does not mean the allegations are false,” he said.

Judge Priestley said the jury must scrutinise both sides and “avoid any emotional or prejudiced response” while making their decision.

The judge reminded the jurors Casey argued there had never been any sexual activity between him and the alleged victim.

John Patrick Casey outside the court.

Priest accused of child sex abuse ‘can’t keep story straight’: court

Monday, November 5: A priest and ex-cop chaplain seemed “quite rehearsed” and made “slip-ups” when questioned about the alleged sex assault of a 14-year-old boy on the Northern Rivers in the early 1980s, a prosecutor told a court.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the jury in John Patrick Casey’s ongoing trial in Lismore District Court the priest’s recounting of events “unravelled” when he was hit by unexpected questions.

“He made some slip-ups,” she told the court.

Ms Franklin told the jury on Friday that Casey “could not keep his story straight” and he was “a dishonest witness”.

The 76-year-old has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a person under 16.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the court the victim’s 13-year-old friend also alleged Casey sexually abused him, however, charges have not been laid in relation to that.

Casey took to the stand in the court and refuted allegations he massaged the 14-year-old boy, touched his genitals or digitally raped him after plying the boys with alcohol during a sleepover at his home in a town near Casino.

John Patrick Casey.

The complainant and his friend gave evidence in a closed court late last week.

Ms Franklin said Casey had confirmed the boys slept at his house, which placed him at the location of the alleged offending.

Ms Franklin said the complainant, now in his 50s, told police about the alleged sexual assault in “great detail”.

“People don’t mistake being digitally penetrated in their anus,” she told the court.

When the alleged victim gave evidence, he said he thought Casey was “a good guy” before he was attacked, Ms Franklin said.

She said the accuser was a “down to earth, tell it as it is guy” and the massage began as “innocent”.

Casey was a priest in the Northern Rivers at the time of the alleged offending.

The friend also gave evidence and Ms Franklin said the defence was suggesting both men were “outright lying”, which was not the case.

The jury heard the priest claimed he went on the corkscrew ride at Sea World on the Gold Coast about three times, but later said he had visited the theme park up to five times.

When Casey spoke in court, he told the Crown his evidence could not possibly be wrong, even after 40 years. But he could not correctly recall how many times he attended the theme park in the ‘80s.

The Crown argued Casey was “emboldened” by the complainant’s friend sleeping over because it might make it harder for people to believe any offending occurred.

Casey’s defence lawyer Jason Watts told the jury neither the complainant or his friend were reliable and the jury could not be satisfied his client was guilty.

Mr Watts said the complainant’s friend did not see any indecent touching and his evidence was “unreliable”.

“There’s a glaring issue – everyone is talking about events that happened more than 40 years ago,” he said.

“Emotions get in the way of when you try to recall memories.”

Ms Franklin told the jury the friend said that an indecent massage “could have happened” to the alleged victim.

The prosecution and defence disputed the timeline around the allegations.