Bernard Kevin McGrath, 67, is facing 252 child sex offences relating to 35 victims and dating back to the 1970s.

McGrath's case was mentioned briefly in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday. Continue reading

Justice Cameron Mander's decision was issued at the Christchurch High Court today, two weeks after he spent half a day hearing submissions on the judicial review of the decision by former Justice Minister Judith Collins.

Australia is seeking the extradition of McGrath, 65, to face 252 child sex abuse charges there. Continue reading

The office of Justice Minister Judith Collins has confirmed that she has issued an order for Bernard McGrath's surrender to Australia.

But Mr McGrath has already filed judicial review proceedings challenging the Minister's decision. Continue reading

Also: McGrath faces 252 sex abuse charges

Australian authorities are trying to extradite McGrath from New Zealand to face 252 child sex charges.

He is currently on bail.

A Christchurch District Court judge put the final extradition decision in Ms Collins's hands.

McGrath's lawyers launched an application for a judicial review after Ms Collins refused to give them more time to make submissions.

But they sent their submissions to Ms Collins in July and withdrew the review application.

Ms Collins has said she will receive advice from officials and will carefully consider submissions.

Continue reading

Bernard Kevin McGrath, 65, faces 252 child sex charges in Australia, and the Australian government is seeking to extradite him.

A Christchurch district court judge agreed to McGrath's extradition on June 11, 2013, but a final decision must be made by Justice Minister Judith Collins. Continue reading

More delays over McGrath extradition]]> 60098 https://cathnews.co.nz/2013/12/20/final-decision-ex-catholic-brothers-extradition-reserved/ Thu, 19 Dec 2013 18:05:24 +0000 http://cathnews.co.nz/?p=53481 A final decision on the extradition of a former Catholic brother Bernard McGrath to Australia to face 252 child sex abuse charges has been reserved. Judge Farish heard submissions from both sides before reserving her decision to a hearing on January 17. She also suppressed all details of Tuesday's submissions. Continue reading

Bernard Kevin McGrath has been fighting an application from police in New South Wales to extradite him since October last year.

In a High Court judgement released on Tuesday, Justice Whata said he was concerned by the analysis of law made by the ruling judge when the extradition order was made. Continue reading

Bernard Kevin McGrath faces 252 charges of alleged offending against boys in New South Wales over several decades.

McGrath's appeal case was heard on Thursday morning in the High Court in Christchurch by Justice Christian Whata.

All of today's discussion has been suppressed, and McGrath did not appear at the hearing.

After hearing submissions, Justice Whata reserved his decision but said he hopes to be in a position to release it early next week. Continue reading

Bernard Kevin McGrath's appeal was scheduled to be heard at the High Court in Christchurch on 15 August, but has been adjourned until 5 September. Continue reading

The court in Christchurch will hear the 65-year-old's appeal on that afternoon.

The Australian Government sought his extradition last November on 252 charges, with McGrath returning voluntarily to Christchurch from Sri Lanka in early December. He was immediately arrested but released on bail after a few days, to live with his sister. Read more

McGrath, 65, had until today to either lodge an appeal or voluntarily go back to Australia where 252 charges have been laid alleging that he raped, molested and abused dozens of young boys at church-run institutions over several years.

The charges relate to 35 complainants between 1977 and 1986. Continue reading

The Australian Government's application for extradition was granted by Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court today.

In Australia, charges have been laid against McGrath, 65, alleging that he raped, molested and abused dozens of young boys at church-run institutions over several decades.

A total of 252 charges have been laid.

The charges relate to 35 complainants between 1977 and 1986. Continue reading

Judge David Saunders remanded McGrath, 65, on continued bail.

Judge Saunders was critical of the media for pursuing McGrath down the street after his last court appearance two weeks ago and said he had given permission for in-court filming at this appearance so that the matter could be dealt with in a dignified way.

He was concerned Allan said the scene outside the courthouse had been even worse on this occasion.

"It is not proper for this man or any others to be chased along the street with cameras and microphones being thrust in their face," Judge Saunders said.

"I would hope these comments have been taken on board."

Continue reading in The Press

McGrath voluntarily left Sri Lanka last week and arrived at Christchurch International Airport on Friday. Police deny he had fled to Sri Lanka, saying he was only there for a holiday.

He was allowed through immigration before being arrested in the city a few hours later.

After spending the weekend in police cells, McGrath appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Monday. Judge Farish granted him conditional bail and remanded him until December 17 to allow him time to study the new charges.

Australian police want McGrath extradited to face the new charges of abusing, molesting and raping boys and young adults at church-run institutions in New South Wales over several decades.

At his next hearing McGrath will either accept extradition or oppose the application.

In 2006, McGrath was jailed for five years for sexually abusing boys at Marylands School in Christchurch in the 1970s, and was paroled in 2008.

Source

• Huffington Post
• Radio Australia International
• The New Zealand Herald
• Image: Sydney Morning Herald

Fairfax Media in Australia reported that Bernard Kevin McGrath flew out of Christchurch a few months ago, some time after 252 abuse charges were laid in a Newcastle court on June 27.

The charges relate to the 65-year-old McGrath's time at Church-run institutions in Newcastle-Maitland diocese during the late in 1970s and 1980s.

New South Wales police intended to extradite McGrath from Christchurch, where he had lived since being paroled in 2008. But a New Zealand police source said the formal extradition request did not arrive until November 15.

A Fairfax Media report said McGrath is now living on a tea plantation in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

The report said Sri Lanka is a known haven for paedophiles, particularly in its rural areas where criminals run large, organised child-sex operations. It quoted the online Factbook on Global Exploitation as saying that 10,000 to 12,000 children from rural areas in Sri Lanka are trafficked and prostituted to paedophiles by organised crime groups every year.

Although Australia does not have a direct extradition treaty with Sri Lanka, it can extradite suspects from there under the London Scheme, which enables Commonwealth countries to extradite fugitive criminals to each other upon the presentation of prima face evidence.

McGrath was a teacher and dormitory master at Marylands, a St John of God boarding school near Christchurch for boys with learning and behavioural difficulties.

In 1993 he was sentenced to three years' jail for offences at Marylands and the Hebron Trust, a learning centre for street kids.

In 2002, more complainants contacted New Zealand police concerning sexual assaults by McGrath, culminating in his conviction in 2006 on 22 abuse charges.

Source:

The Age

Image: NDJ World

New South Wales police were to extradite McGrath to Australia from Christchurch where he was living. However Fairfax Media reported he was able to leave New Zealand after the charges were lodged, and is believed to staying on a tea plantation in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

New Zealand police told Fairfax the formal extradition request only came through from Interpol on November 15.

It is reported the delay in extraditing McGrath was due to the many levels of bureaucracy involved in the extradition process.

Australia does not have an extradition treaty with Sri Lanka directly. However it can extradite suspects from Sri Lanka under the London Scheme which enables Commonwealth countries to extradite criminals to each other.

Fairfax Media understands that Australian Federal Police based in Sri Lanka have been made aware of McGrath's presence.

Source

• Sydney Morning Herald
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: ABC News