NSW: Suspended priest granted bail on grooming charges

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2009
NSW: Suspended priest granted bail on grooming charges

By Andrew Drummond

SYDNEY, Aug 14 AAP - The Catholic Church has suspended a Sydney priest facing serious
criminal charges of grooming a child for sex.

Robert MacGregor Fuller, 54, allegedly used a webcam to show himself masturbating during
online chat sessions with a police officer who was posing as a 13-year-old girl.

A priest at All Saints church at Liverpool, in Sydney's southwest, for some six years,
Fuller was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the car park of Parramatta pool where it
is alleged he planned to meet the teenage girl for sex.

He was subsequently charged with grooming and procuring a child under the age of 16
and faced Parramatta Local Court on Friday.

"This is a clear abuse of a position of authority within the church, particularly as
the defendant is in a position of having unvetted access to (children)," police prosecutor
Sergeant Kai Peninkilampi told the court.

Police allege that between July 21 and August 13 Fuller had 13 online chat sessions
with an officer masquerading as a 13-year-old girl.

"During these communications, the accused masturbated on webcamera ... on other occasions
he instructed and encouraged (the girl) to masturbate herself with her fingers. He also
arranged meeting (the girl) for the purpose of engaging in sexually explicit acts," police
facts before the court said.

Fuller's face was captured by webcam during five of the online conversations, police said.

In applying for bail, Fuller's solicitor Greg Walsh called evidence from another Sydney
priest who has known the accused for several years.

Father Terry Bell, currently acting in the position of bishop for the Western Sydney
diocese, said Fuller worked hard and had a "very good reputation in the community", adding
he was "shocked" when he heard the allegations.

Fr Bell offered $25,000 of church money as bail and accommodation at a church-owned
property at Terrigal in support of Fuller's bid to be released on bail.

Dressed in denim jeans and a zip-up tracksuit top, Fuller sat quietly in the dock of
the court during the proceedings.

Mr Walsh said there was no suggestion in the facts that any child "before this alleged
behaviour, has been put at risk or preyed upon by this man".

Labelling the charges as "serious", Magistrate Peter Miszalski granted Fuller bail,
requiring that he report to police three times a week, surrender his passport, not use
the internet, and not be in proximity to children or attend places such as schools, the
movies and sports grounds.

The church was required to lodge $25,000 cash as part of the bail conditions.

Fuller is due to next appear in the same court on October 8.

The Archdiocese of Sydney on Friday said Fuller was "immediately stood down from his
ministry" and would remain so pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

"This is appalling and distressing news," Sydney Archbishop Cardinal George Pell said
in a statement.

"I share the concern and alarm of parishioners, and particularly of parents and the
school community.

"I can assure them that the safety of children in our parishes and schools is paramount,
and the Archdiocese will co-operate fully with the police in relation to this and any
other investigation into abuse at anytime."

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