Prison probe after killing of abuse priest

US PROSECUTORS investigating the prison death of defrocked priest John Geoghan want to know if security procedures broke down at the facility, allowing a neo-Nazi who hated homosexuals the opportunity to confront a convicted paedophile.

Joseph L Druce, who is serving a life term for killing a gay man 15 years ago, is accused of strangling Geoghan to death on Saturday at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Centre in Shirley, Massachusetts.

“We are going to do a thorough review and re-evaluate all of our policies and procedures,” state Public Safety Secretary Ed Flynn said.

Governor Mitt Romney appointed a panel to conduct an independent investigation. Surveillance cameras in filming the protective custody unit while the attack took place will also be reviewed. District Attorney John J Conte said Druce, who has been co-operating with investigators, told them he planned the attack for over a month. Druce is believed to have acted alone.

Druce and Geoghan, 68, had just finished lunch in their cells and were let out to return their trays when Druce followed Geoghan into his cell.

He tied Geoghan’s hands behind his back with a T-shirt, then used stretched-out socks, a pillow case and one of Geoghan’s shoes to strangle him, Mr Conte said. He said Druce will be charged with murder once a grand jury is convened in September.

Druce, 37, a reputed member of the neo-Nazi group Aryan Nation, was convicted in the June 1988 murder of George Rollo, 51, a gay bus driver who had picked Druce up hitchhiking. Geoghan was serving a nine-to 10-year sentence for assault and battery on a 10-year-old boy.