Priest John Patrick Casey on trial in Lismore District Court for alleged historical sex abuse of 14-year-old boy
A northern NSW priest has denied sexually abusing a boy and using “naughty behaviours” like drinking and smoking to make the alleged victim feel he could not speak up. Here’s the latest.
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A North Coast Catholic priest, an ex-cop chaplain, has denied sexually abusing a boy and using “naughty behaviours” like drinking, smoking and driving unlicensed to make the alleged victim feel he could not speak up.
John Patrick Casey has denied he let the alleged 14-year-old victim and his 13-year-old friend engage in risky behaviour in order to create a degree of secrecy around the historical offending in the early 1980s.
The 76-year-old Goonellabah man, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a person under 16, took to the stand in Lismore District Court on Thursday.
He refuted allegations he massaged the older teen, touched his genitals or digitally raped him after plying the boys with alcohol in his home at a town near Casino.
Crown prosecutor Melanie Franklin told the jury of seven women and five men that Casey encouraged “naughty behaviours” to prevent the boys telling their parents out of fear of incriminating themselves.
The priest admitted to giving the boys cigarettes and alcohol without their parents knowing, but denied he did it to prevent them speaking out, or to prey on the older teen.
It’s alleged offending occurred while Casey was working as a parish priest and lived in a presbytery, a clergy house.
Ms Franklin said Casey took the boys who he met through church on day trips, on a weekend away to Sea World on the Gold Coast and that he hosted a sleepover at his home.
Earlier this week, the complainant and his friend gave evidence in a closed court.
Casey told the court he invited the boys to sleep over because “they never had that type of teenage snobbiness”.
He said interactions were “innocent” and that “nothing untoward happened”.
Casey said the boys were given alcohol, cigarettes, dinner and they all watched a movie before the boys slept in a spare room.
The priest said he was “not attracted” to the alleged victim in a sexual way.
“You’re adopting the word attracted,” Ms Franklin said.
She argued Casey used his position in the church to frame himself as a trustworthy person to take advantage of the boys’ parents and the alleged victim.
The complainant, who approached police in his early 50s, did not return to the priest’s home after the sleepover, or speak to his friend about allegations, the court heard.
It was also heard Casey allowed the alleged victim to drive his car unlicensed and unsupervised during a day trip at Urbenville.
The boy rolled the car and Casey told the court he could not recall if he told the teen’s parents.
The trial continues.
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Originally published as Priest John Patrick Casey on trial in Lismore District Court for alleged historical sex abuse of 14-year-old boy
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