Patrick Colleary
Patrick Colleary is an Irish Roman Catholic priest accused of molesting a person under the age of 15 while a priest at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe, Arizona.
He was suspended in May 2002 after he admitted fathering a child with a woman named Sharon Roy in 1978. She claimed the encounter was non-consensual. However, in a 1997 article, Ms. Roy spoke of a consensual physical relationship with Colleary. In 2002 Colleary was jailed for a month after being accused of molesting a young man, but charges were dismissed under the statute of limitations. [citation needed]
Colleary was indicted on a separate charge of molestation and another warrant was issued for his arrest in 2003. [citation needed] Colleary is currently living in Ireland, and has fought extradition back to Arizona, primarily the basis of the controversy surrounding Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He has denied all charges.[1] [2]
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- A bishop cops a plea, but for victims it's not nearly enough (U.S. News & World Report, 16 June 03)
- U.S. News & World Report coverage
- New York Times coverage of Colleary case
See also
[edit]- Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
- Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses
- Sex Crimes and the Vatican (Panorama Documentary Episode)
- Ferns Report, on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns (Ireland)
- Barbara Blaine founder of SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests)