11 Jun 2013

Man to be extradited over sex charges

4:12 pm on 11 June 2013

A former Catholic brother is to be extradited to Australia to face hundreds of sex offence charges.

Bernard Kevin McGrath, who is in his 60s, was told he has 15 days to appeal against the extradition decision.

Mr McGrath is wanted in Australia in connection with 252 charges of sexual abuse, including allegations that he raped, molested and abused dozens of boys at church-run institutions in New South Wales in the 1970s and 80s.

At the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday afternoon, Judge Jane Farish granted the Australian government's application for Mr McGrath's extradition, saying she did not think the decision would be unjust or oppressive to him.

The judge granted him bail and placed heavy reporting restrictions on the case, including a ban on photographs of him. She said the restrictions are there to ensure the integrity of the proceedings.