By a Broken Rites researcher

• Article posted 30 July 2013.

A Catholic priest of the Sydney archdiocese, Father Robert Flaherty, 70, appeared in Penrith Local Court on 29 July 2013, charged with five counts of indecent assault offences against children dating back to the 1970s.

The alleged victims, who were aged between 11 and 15, lived in several parishes in which Father Flaherty worked in western Sydney. The offences were alleged to have taken place in Sydney or during visits to the Shoalhaven area, south of Sydney.

Flaherty's July 29 court appearance was reported later on the website of the South Coast Register, a newspaper in the Shoalhaven area.

This was a preliminary court appearance. The next step in the prosecution process is listed for the same court later in 2013, when a brief of evidence will be submitted. On the court schedule, the case is Number 201300201461.

Robert Flaherty, 70, who now lives at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains, was granted bail pending his next court appearance.

Detectives from Blacktown Local Area Command established Strike Force Nemesis to investigate these allegations. The police investigation is continuing.