Ballinahown man facing extradition on abuse charges

A Ballinahown native wanted for trial to answer sex abuse allegations could be back in this country next week after being deported from Brazil to England on St Stephen's Day. Gardai are expected to bring charges against former priest Peter Kennedy, who originally hails from Bloomhill on the Offaly side of Ballinahown, if and when he is extradited from Britain. A number of people are believed to have made statements alleging that the ex-priest, previously a Kiltegan Father missionary, sexually abused them, and the Director of Public Prosecutions has ordered that prosecutions be brought against him. A number of the complaints are understood to relate to the Athlone area. It is up to the 72-year-old former cleric as to whether or not he contests the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) made against him or accepts it and comes back to Ireland. Mr Kennedy is expected to appear in a London court this Thursday, January 5 and reveal if he will comply with the warrant and be flown home or fight the warrant meaning his extradition hearing may not be heard for a number of months. This week's developments came on foot of Brazilian authorities' deportation of the ex-missionary priest, who is thought to have been living in the South American country for the last eight years. Back in 2003, he was exposed as the cleric at the centre of one of the highest compensation payouts of the time after a man was paid €325,000 in a High Court settlement with the Kiltegan Fathers, also known as the St Patrick's Missionary Society, based in Co Wicklow. The Ballinahown native later left Ireland to Britain before journeying to Brazil on a British passport. The sum was paid to Brendan Shannon arising out of allegations that in 1982 Fr Kennedy abused the then 13-year-old at his home in Clonloo, Co Sligo. It's believed the former Fr Kennedy later settled in Osasco, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, where he earned a living teaching English. Brazilian media outlets reported just after Christmas that police there had been following the ex-priest's movements for the previous four months. On December 26 they moved on the basis that Fr Kennedy's documents to stay in the country were not in order and he was deported back to Britain. He was arrested in London by British authorities on foot of an EAW issued last year. This warrant had been issued in the eventuality that Fr Kennedy ever arrived in any EU country. He is currently in custody in London and is due up before the City of Westminster Magistrates Court on January 5. If and when Fr Kennedy arrives back, gardaí are expected to take him to Dublin District Court and bring counts against him. In a statement this week, St Patrick's Missionary Society, also known as the Kiltegan Fathers confirmed that Peter Kennedy is a former priest and a former member of the society. He was ordained in 1964 and worked for a few years in Kenya in East Africa and thereafter he worked in Ireland. He was removed from ministry by St Patrick's Missionary Society in 1986 and was formally laicised by the Vatican in 2003. St Patrick's Missionary Society has worked closely with the Gardai in relation to cases of alleged abuse by Peter Kennedy which have come to its attention. All allegations made to the society concerning Peter Kennedy have been reported to the Gardai. "St Patrick's Missionary Society is saddened by the allegations of abuse. "It is our policy to take all complaints of abuse seriously and to assist those individuals who come forward," the statement added. The society in a statement said contact may be made with the Regional Superior or the Designated Officer for Safeguarding of Children at Kiltegan. Survivors of abuse can also contact the Towards Healing organization www.towardshealing.ie or telephone 1800 303416 or 0800 0963315in Northern Ireland and the UK.