A Catholic priest living a secret life as a paedophile has been convicted of sexually abusing four boys between 1982 and 1993. The priest was convicted of 21 counts of indecent and sexual assaults by Judge Zahra in the District Court in Sydney on 7 December 2012. The Judge sentenced the priest to 13 years in jail with a minimum of 8.5 years before parole. The priest told one victim to look up at the statue of Jesus on the wall whilst performing oral sex on him. He told the boy the abuse was necessary to determine whether or not he was worthy to be an altar boy.
The sentencing was attended by about 30 of the priest’s supporters. The priest blew kisses, waved and winked at his supporters as he entered the courtroom. The priest’s activity was committed in Northern New South Wales including, once again, the Hunter Valley.