Conor McCurley: Court hears young police officer will fight historic child abuse allegations

A young police officer, charged with historic child sex allegations just weeks before his wedding, has revealed he will fight the charges.

A young Melbourne police officer will fight historic child sex allegations, a court has been told.

Conor McCurley, 26, was slapped with 19 charges over the alleged child abuse in August this year, just weeks before he was due to be married.

On Friday, the Melbourne Magistrates‘ Court was told he denies the “numerous” allegations happened and would contest the charges at a committal hearing early next year.

He appeared in court wearing a navy suit, and what appeared to be a wedding ring, and was supported by his partner and two family members.

Junior police officer Conor McCurley leaves the Melbourne Magistrates court with his partner after he was charged with historic child sex abuse offences. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

His lawyer, Caroline Salter, requested the case proceed to committal.

At a committal hearing, prosecutors outline the case against an accused person before a magistrate decides whether there is sufficient evidence to support a conviction at trial in a higher court.

Mr McCurley, a first constable from the North West Metro region, was charged following an internal investigation by the Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit, which is tasked with investigating allegations against serving members.

Mr McCurley is alleged to have committed child sex offences when he was a teenager. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

The alleged offending is said to have occurred when Mr McCurley was a teenager and before he joined Victoria Police.

His alleged victim is now in her early 20s.

The charges include 18 counts of indecent acts with, or in presence of, a child under 16 and one count of sexual penetration.

Mr McCurley was charged just weeks before he was due to marry his partner in the Yarra Valley. Picture: Supplied.

Granting his lawyer’s request to cross-examine six witnesses — including the complainant — Magistrate Donna Bakos said the issues in dispute between the parties were “significant”.

“Can I start by saying its not a straightforward case, it’s numerous allegations over a period of time,” she said.

“The accused denies the allegations … cross-examination is justified in relation to those witnesses.”

Mr McCurley will return to court for a three-day committal in February next year.

Originally published as Conor McCurley: Court hears young police officer will fight historic child abuse allegations