Bishop Lahey's case postponed until the new year

OTTAWA - Bishop Raymond Lahey, who was expected to appear in an Ottawa courtroom Dec. 16 on charges of possession and importation of child pornography, has had his case postponed until Jan. 13.

A lawyer for the former bishop of Antigonish, N.S., asked for the postponement for procedural reasons.

Lahey has still not pled to the charges which were laid Sept. 25, 10 days after a Canada Border Services agent at Ottawa airport searched his laptop and allegedly found pornographic images. The bishop abruptly resigned as bishop the day after charges were laid, but did not turn himself into police until Oct. 1.

Lahey could still face further charges in Nova Scotia. Based on images and videos found on seized electronic equipment, the RCMP in the province executed search warrants on Lahey’s offices and residences in Antigonish and Sydney. Two laptops seized on Oct. 13 are still under forensic investigation.

Lahey has been living in a residence for retired priests in the Ottawa diocese since early October.

He is receiving no legal assistance from his former diocese or any church body and must pay for his room and board from his pension.