Priest, ex-police chaplain John Patrick Casey fighting historical child sex abuse charges in Lismore District Court

A Catholic priest and former police chaplain is on trial in a Lismore court for alleged historical child sexual assault in northern NSW. Warning: Graphic content

John Patrick Casey is fighting charges in Lismore District Court.

A Catholic priest and former police chaplain is on trial in a Lismore court for alleged historical child sexual assault in northern NSW.

John Patrick Casey has been accused of plying a 14-year-old boy with alcohol before massaging and digitally raping him in the early 1980s.

The accused John Patrick Casey outside Lismore Courthouse. He is fighting historic child sex abuse charges.

The 76-year-old faced Lismore District Court on Monday pleading not guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a person under 16.

Casey was working as a priest in the Lismore area in the 1980s at the time.

Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the court Casey had been associating with a 13-year-old boy connected to the church and his 14-year-old friend.

John Casey puts on a face mask on as he walks out of Lismore Courthouse during the trial.

Ms Franklin alleged the boys were at Casey’s North Coast home one night, where he gave them alcohol.

The lawyer alleged Casey began massaging the 14-year-old boy’s shoulders and told him to take off his shirt and underwear while he laid on a towel.

The court heard the priest allegedly touched the boy’s penis and then digitally penetrated him.

Ms Franklin alleged to the court Casey told the alleged victim his friend was in another room waiting to be massaged too.

Casey was also accused of massaging the 13-year-old before bed.

The prosecution alleged Casey made a joke out of the incident to make the boys believe his behaviour was OK.

John Patrick Casey. Picture: File

The trial is set to focus on Casey’s alleged offending against the 14-year-old. The jury was told charges did not relate to the younger boy.

Casey’s lawyer Jason Watts told the court his client denied any indecent acts and the defence would be testing the reliability of the complainant.

Mr Watts said there was no mention of massages, sexual activity or Casey touching the boys when the 13-year-old first spoke to police.

The alleged victim, now a man, gave evidence in a closed courtroom on Monday.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Priest, ex-police chaplain John Patrick Casey fighting historical child sex abuse charges in Lismore District Court