Extradition sought of priest (82) from US
US Lawyers for an elderly Irish priest, wanted here for allegedly twice raping a 15-year-old boy in 1968, told his extradition hearing yesterday that they had got the wrong man.
But the judge dealing with the case of Fr Francis Markey (82), who has been living in South Bend, Indiana, quickly dismissed this argument.
US Magistrate Judge Christopher Neuchterlein ruled that the man in court clearly was the same man the Irish Government wanted, the 'South Bend Tribune' newspaper court report said.
The Government is seeking the extradition of the retired priest so he can be charged with two counts of rape. The alleged victim claimed, in court documents, that the alleged attacks happened when he was on a religious pilgrimage with his family in 1968, and after his father's funeral the same year.
However, the priest's lawyers argued that a 1993 change in the Irish criminal code abolished the crime of "buggery" with which Fr Markey is being charged.
Judge Neuchterlein gave the US government and Fr Markey's lawyers until December 30 to file written briefs on the legal argument -- after which he will announce his decision.
But the judge indicated that he was leaning toward recommending that the extradition request from Ireland for Fr Markey be honoured.
- Jeff Parrott and Brendan Farrelly
Irish Independent
