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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Notorious Irish pedophile priest discovered working with kids in Holland

Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 02:42 PM

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A notorious Irish pedophile priest who abused children for many years in America has been discovered helping out as a church deacon in Rotterdam under an assumed name and working a shelter for abused women and their children.

Father Oliver O'Grady served as a priest at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Lodi, California from 1971 to 1978. He later served at Church of the Presentation in Stockton, California, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock, California, St. Andrew's Parish in San Andreas, California, and St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hughson, California.

In 1993 he was convicted on four counts of "lewd and lascivious acts" on two minors, the brothers John and James Howard, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Attorney Jeff Anderson said the Howards were repeatedly molested between 1978 and 1991, from age three to 13. Anderson claimed church officials knew that O'Grady had abused children as early as 1976 and 1984 but had done nothing. Police had been informed of earlier charges and had declined to prosecute.

In 1998 a civil jury ordered the Catholic Diocese of Stockton to pay US$30 million in damages to the brothers. A judge later reduced the amount to $7 million.

O'Grady was paroled from prison in 2000 after serving only seven years, and went to Ireland after being deported from the United States.

He claimed to have been himself molested by a priest at the age of 10, and that he was involved in sexual abuse in his own family, both as perpetrator and victim. One of his victims was just nine months old.

The defrocked priest referred to himself as 'Brother Francis' in Rotterdam. He was thought to be living in Ireland but had recently disappeared. He was found by the Sunday Tribune newspaper.

The parishioners attending the Church of the Holy Heart, Christ Our Redeemer, had no knowledge about the man once described as one of the most dangerous pedophiles ever. The newspaper reported he was also working at a fast food restaurant where he helped organize children's parties.

He gained notoriety when the film "Deliver Us From Evil' was released about his case. It was when the documentary was released in Holland two weeks ago that he was recognized.

Parishioners told the Sunday Tribune he was "acting as a church deacon, helping the priest with the sacraments and organising the choir singing. On one occasion, when the priest was late, the defrocked cleric celebrated the mass until he arrived."

Fr Avin Kunnekkadan, on said he was unaware of O'Grady's criminal past.

"I did not know about his background. I did not know about his past at all," he said this weekend. An announcement was made at the church last week informing the congregation about O'Grady's criminal past.

Last week, O'Grady was also served with a civil action at his Dublin hostel by Californian attorneys Manly, McGuire & Stewart.

The firm specialises in clerical sex abuse cases and represents several of O'Grady's victims who are taking civil actions against him.

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29 comments

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Godscre | Apr 26, 2010, 11:37 AM EDT

I'm also grateful for Irish Central. Without the media, the abuse would probably still be going on. Jesus is the head of the Body of Christ. Obedience to God comes before obedience to church authority (which the present Pope wrote about in 1967 which seemed to be forgotten when he wrote a letter to bishops in 2001). Teachers will be judged more strickly as James 3:1 states. It seems that God is doing some Spring cleaning in the Vatican. God's Creatures Ministry

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Searlit | Apr 26, 2010, 11:22 AM EDT

I agree with you KathyCallahan.

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murphy66 | Apr 26, 2010, 11:16 AM EDT

Wit closes the coffin on emotion.

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emer333 | Apr 26, 2010, 11:03 AM EDT

I'm glad he was caught, as many are not caught, but it still sickens me.I blame equally to the prosecutors who will not file charges. I agree with hyatsville. This is no place for jokes to Murphy66.

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murphy66 | Apr 26, 2010, 09:55 AM EDT

mrkennedy, you can't deny that He "called" them knowing that they would violate children. You would think He would have been a little more discriminating.

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mrkennedy | Apr 26, 2010, 08:58 AM EDT

To Murphy66, based on your reasoning God should then be blamed for all mortal sins committed by human beings! Your logic is illogical!!!

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murphy66 | Apr 26, 2010, 01:25 AM EDT

Hey, boys and girls, don't blame me. Blame God. He "called" these creeps to Holy Orders.

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KathyCallahan | Apr 25, 2010, 10:16 PM EDT

That Irish Central has provided steadfast and tireless coverage of breaking news, details about the fall out of Ryan and Murphy Reports, Maureen Dowd and Peggy Noonan opinions, and a forum for members to blog in is nothing short of a timely and sacred act of devotion to keep Irish Catholic (and all) children past, present and future -safe.

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hyattsville | Apr 25, 2010, 08:39 PM EDT

This is beyond disturbing particularly in this day and age when records are so easily accessible. Obviously I feel he should be spending the remainder of his life in prison. And Murphy, from this comment and many other contributions that you've made to Irish Central, I dare say you'd have quite a job getting 70 cents for any part of you. You are a sick individual.

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KathyCallahan | Apr 25, 2010, 05:23 PM EDT

There is nothing worse than a psychopathic priest on the loose and feeling and acting like he is entitled to work with children and molest them over and over again. This has all the under pinnings of a NAMBLA like operation. North America Man Boy Love Assoc Not about love. What we have here is 'INTAMBPPA' International Alliances Man Boy Pedophile Priest Association.

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McNamara31 | Apr 25, 2010, 04:33 PM EDT

@ murphy66 "I'd let him molest me for $7,000,000." It's comments like that, that allowed this crime against children to go on for decades. When it happens to your 3 year old I bet you'll be singing a different tune.

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TrooprThrn | Apr 25, 2010, 03:53 PM EDT

This pondscum abused the boys ovre 13 years, gets sentenced to 14 years prison, and gets out in SEVEN? I can't be the only person who sees a problem with this math!

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dunbekin36 | Apr 25, 2010, 02:55 PM EDT

This is digusting. This a very sick person.and needs to be dealt with.

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murphy66 | Apr 25, 2010, 02:54 PM EDT

O'Grady just wants to be close to the action. Incidentally, I'd let him molest me for $7,000,000.

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