Priest resigns after abuse charges

A FORMER Ipswich Catholic priest has been charged with the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl from the city.

Police said they issued the 64-year-old man - now living in Brisbane - with a notice to appear in court last Thursday in relation to charges of indecent treatment of a child.

Detective Inspector Mick Niland said the offences were alleged to have occurred between 1977 and 1981 when the man, then aged between 32 and 36, was working as Catholic priest in the Ipswich area.

“This came about as the result of a protracted investigation by the Ipswich Criminal Investigation Branch over a number of months,” Insp Niland said.

Police would not reveal exactly where the alleged offences occurred, except to say that they took place “somewhere in the Ipswich police district”.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane yesterday said the man had now resigned from his parish and was on leave from any pastoral duties as a result of the allegations.

“So as in not to any way prejudice the investigations, the Archdiocese will be refraining from making any further comment,” a spokesperson from the Archdiocese said.

The man will appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on July 28.