Catholic priest found guilty of child sex offences

Victims of a Catholic priest say they are elated that he has been convicted of child sex offences after 30 years.


Seven former students of a boy's school in Engadine in Sydney's south accused Father Paul Evans of rape and sexual assault.

He pleaded not guilty, telling the court he hugged and comforted the boys but did not touch them in a sexual way.

Today, a jury found him guilty of 18 offences.

The abuse took place between 1977 and 1988 when Evans was a boarding school master.

Outside the court, one of his victims said when he told the police about the abuse as a teenager he had been laughed at.

He said he was relieved to be recognised by the legal system after so many years.

Evans is due to be sentenced in September.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/25/2315068.htm