Plea to Clark on extradition

Prime Minister Helen Clark has been asked to intervene after an Australian court decided not to grant extradition for two Catholic clergymen to face charges of sexual abuse in New Zealand.

Ken Clearwater, manager of the Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, which has supported many of the alleged victims, has contacted Helen Clark to ask the Government to get involved after Raymond Garchow and Rodger Moloney had their extradition order overturned by an Australian Federal Court judge last week.

Mr Clearwater said the Government should support the boys because many were wards of state or placed at the school by the former Social Welfare Department.

The two clergymen from the St John of God order, were due to face charges of sexual abuse in the 1970s against children at Christchurch's Marylands Special School.

But Justice Rodney Madgwick said in Sydney that the delay in bringing the charges meant the pair would not get a fair trial in New Zealand.

Justice Madgwick, said it would be "unjust or oppressive" to send the clergymen back to face trial given the differences between the two countries' legal systems and the delay in bringing the allegations.

A spokesman for Helen Clark told Christchurch's Press newspaper Mr Clearwater's submission had not yet been received.

- NZPA