The trial on sex abuses charges of St John of God Br Rodger Moloney has begun in Christchurch following his extradition from Australia. The High Court trial for Br Moloney, who fought three years to avoid it, began in Christchurch on Friday.
Moloney, 73, was extradited from Australia after a protracted series of hearings to face 30 charges of historical sexual abuse against boys.
Moloney allegedly abused 11 boys over a six year period while he worked at Marylands, a Christchurch residential school for boys with intellectual and learning disabilities run by the St John of God order.
Moloney, dressed in a dark suit and tie, gave a firm "not guilty" when asked to plead to each of the charges 14 of inducing a boy under 16 to commit an indecent act, 10 of indecent assault on boys, four of sodomy, and two of doing an indecent act.
Moloney, a qualified pharmacist and psychiatric nurse, left his native Australia in 1971 to become prior of the Christchurch community of St John of God. Moloney oversaw the Marylands school, its associated hospital, and the brothers who worked there.
The Crown alleges Moloney exploited his position to abuse pupils at the school, many of whom had been referred there by psychologists because of learning difficulties or behavioural problems.
Crown prosecutor Kerryn Beaton said Moloney was a risk taker, who committed many of his crimes in open or semi-open places. Moloney touched, or made boys touch him, in his office during school hours, in dormitories at night while other boys were nearby, or in rooms or areas into which people could easily have walked.
Justice Panckhurst told the jury of seven men and five women it was necessary to take the unusual step of telling them about the previous case so the present trial could be placed in its context.
He said there would be no profit in speculation about the views of the jury in that case, and that they must judge each of the accusations against Moloney on their own right, based on the evidence.
The court was told five of Moloney's alleged victims were also complainants in the McGrath case.
It was also told 10 of the 11 complainants had received money and counselling exceeding $300,000 from St John of God.
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