Elderly priest faces extradition over child-abuse charges

An elderly Irish priest is facing extradition from the US to face charges of child sex abuse dating back more than 40 years.

Father Francis Markey is accused of raping a 15-year-old boy during a pilgrimage to Lough Derg, Co Donegal, in 1968 and a raping him again in Co Galway.

He was arrested by US marshals at his home in Indiana on Monday and was brought before the US District Court on Tuesday.

It is understood the Director of Public Prosecutions issued a warrant for the 81-year-old’s arrest 18 months ago and requested the priest be sent back to Ireland to go on trial.

Pamela Mozdzierz, a spokeswoman for the US marshal in northern Indiana, said the pensioner was arrested without any struggle at his home address at Miller Court, South Bend.

“When he was approached he was standing outside his home on the front porch of his home,” she said. “He appeared in court yesterday and the next hearing is Monday next week.”

Fr Markey previously administered in the diocese of Clogher, which covers the counties of Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh.

The court heard Irish authorities issued warrants for the priest in April and May of last year after a garda investigation and requested he be held without bail until the extradition request was resolved.

It is understood the accused man told the judge he was “at a loss” and said he was in bad health having survived a stroke and a recent fall in which he hit his head.

Fr Markey was remanded to St Joseph County Jail until November 16.