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Irish priest accused of rape fights extradition, wants bail

JANE WALSHE,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, February 21, 2010, 9:32 AM

Updated Sunday, February 21, 2010, 12:07 PM

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The Ferns diocese in County Wexford was subject of a report in 2005.

An Irish priest accused of raping a 15-year-old boy is fighting moves to have him extradited to Ireland, and wants to stay out of jail (on bail) while doing so.

Fr. Francis Markey, who is 82, currently lives in Indiana. The accusation of rape dates back to 1968, when the priest was based in Monaghan, the Irish Independent reported yesterday. The alleged victim is now 57, and he brought a case after reading the Ferms report, which in 2005 documented instances of child abuse that occurred in the diocese of Ferns in Wexford. The man claims Fr. Markey raped him on two occasions when he was a boy.

Markey’s lawyers argue that he should be allowed to remain on bail while filing motions to avoid extradition.

Markey was arrested in his home in November. He had been living at an address in South Bend, Indiana, for about 10 years, where he worked as drug rehabilitation counselor, often with young people, according to local newspaper the South Bend Tribune. Catholic church officials say Markey did not work for the diocese there.

But the US sex abuse activist group, The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), has called for Indiana bishops to support a case against Markey, and on Thursday they held protests in Indiana.

“SNAP wants current and former church officials and church members, in Indiana and Michigan, to aggressively reach out to anyone with information about any misdeeds by Markey,” the group announced on its website, explaining that they want Indiana bishop Kevin Rhoades to use all possible means to encourage other possible victims to speak out.

The group adds, “All too often, Catholic hierarchy does the bare minimum, and responds only to subpoenas, rather than taking the initiative to help law enforcement find victims, witnesses and information that can help build strong criminal cases against predator priests.”

Indiana judge Christopher Nuechterlein told the Irish Independent that evidence for Markey’s crime may be “weak” but said it is up to Irish courts to make the decision.

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Intercessor | Feb 27, 2010, 10:12 PM EST

In every case like this where there are alleged, but credible accusations of abuse, I believe the motto should be, "Justice Before Mercy!" So what if he consecrated the Eucharist thousands of times? If he committed any type of sexual abuse against a child, he shouldn't be in the ministry and should need to answer his accusers. Would Jesus have kept him in the ministry if he had abused a child? I rather doubt it.

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SingleDonald | Feb 22, 2010, 07:33 PM EST

grandmaguns, I share your sentiments. Here in the U.S., we have what is known as a Statute of Limitations, on most crimes, murder excluded. Feminists tried to challenge this concept, but it was upheld by a Supreme Court decision, a few years back. Statutes of Limitations exist for good cause. Memories fade, witnesses move away, or die, false accusations can be made, just to enjoy cash settlements. It would be extremely difficult (if not impossible) for the 57-year old victim to prove the allegations, just as it would be for Father Markey to disprove them. Let the Catholic Church move forward and prevent future incidents of pedophilia, and also have recent transgressors be prosecuted. We all shouldn't worry about the distant past!

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grandmaguns | Feb 22, 2010, 05:48 PM EST

I think that bringing allegations forty years after an event makes it very difficult to defend yourself. I don't remeber everything from forty years ago. Prove the case in Ireland and then look to extradite.

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grandmaguns | Feb 22, 2010, 12:01 PM EST

All of you who condemn this man of god will burn in hell.

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KathyCallahan | Feb 22, 2010, 02:30 AM EST

South Bend Newspaper reported on Feb 21, "The government countered that the 'false memory' psychologist hired by Markey's attorneys would be "impeaching" Ireland's extradition request, something not permitted under the law. Judge Christopher Nuechterlein agreed and refused to hear the psychologist's testimony.

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KathyCallahan | Feb 22, 2010, 02:07 AM EST

The fifty seven year old victim states through today that he was repeatedly raped by Father Markey when he was a boy. And he is still on Markey's trail all the way to South Bend where the former Wexford priest is now 'working with' lost and homeless drug addicted youth in the shadows of Notre Dame but no longer affiliated with a parish. The Wexford man's story is screaming to be told. He was born in 1955 and raped for the first time when he was eight years old. Markey was born in 1927 and entered the priesthood in 47 to reenact all that was done to him when he was a boy. and yes i said it –and believe it's a sound and reliable interpretation. That markey is stuck in a 1935 crime scene and can't get out of it. But Irish, U.S., State of Indiana, South Bend, Vatican and Victims should demand his immediate extradition to Ire in unison. Commencing a decisive investigation that will set the wheels of Justice in motion and trumps belated papal decrees and vatican apologies.

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KathyCallahan | Feb 22, 2010, 01:36 AM EST

Markey's 'transfers' were all unwittingly and unknowingly funded by parishioners during Sunday mass. Ordered and executed by and between Irish / American religious authorities and enforced on the ground by parish/archdiocese religious in an untold number of U.S. IRE counties. In 1963 the victim was 8 years old and Markey was 36. markey's entire paper and oral transfer trail from Wexford to South Bend should be published in full. You have to wonder did markey do short stints in 'charlestown ma' and or 'jersey city nj' parishes -serving mass, presiding over baptisms, first holy communions. Did he enjoy holidays surrounded by kids in Dingle, Spring Lake?

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KathyCallahan | Feb 22, 2010, 01:28 AM EST

'Free Bird Markey' is but one of many alleged 80 something year old predator priests who should be extradited, thoroughly questioned by legal not papal auth about unsolved living history crimes that were committed against humanity under the age of 18 years old in Ire USA over the last sixty years. If not now when? If not you who? If investigators come up with nothing on 'Markey' he will be released. But just maybe those who are questioned will give up critically important insights and information that they are harboring (and will no doubt take to their grave) about dead or alive priests, enablers and silencers. Children who otherwise loved to talk, sing, dance, shout and play show and tell in varying degrees were doomed by a conspiracy of shaming unwavering silence -and their stories remain untold. Set them free.

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Intercessor | Feb 22, 2010, 01:09 AM EST

Just as former Nazis, who are currently in their late 80's or 90's, shouldn't be allowed to cop out and blame age or failing health for crimes committed in WWII, why should a priest, who allegedly molested/raped a child in 1968, be given any special treatment and be allowed to avoid extradition? Other newspaper reports have said that he was sent by the Church for counseling regarding Pedophilia, which would lead one to believe that possibly there are other survivors in the States, who have not come forward. In the States it is claimed that he wasn't supervised by the local bishop. Apparently, the judge, who sat on the hearing, believed there was enough substance to the allegations, to put him back in jail, without bail, until Ireland sends someone to the States to pick him up. For other newspaper accounts on this story, put "Abuse Tracker" in a Search Engine, and about a dozen other stories on Fr. Markey will show up.

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ceciliag | Feb 21, 2010, 02:08 PM EST

WOW, The Arrogance of These Catholic Priests & Their Enabling Bishops Never Ceases To Amaze Me!!! If this man is innocent, then he has nothing to fear. If he is guilty, then he should make his peace with Almighty GOD and do what's right Either way, he should be a man and take what's coming to him.

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CER1940 | Feb 21, 2010, 11:43 AM EST

I think the appeals should be held in an expedient manner. Pending completion of the appeals, I believe bail should be sufficiently high to insure that he does not flee.

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