DETECTIVES have gathered 8000 pages of evidence against former Hunter Catholic Brother Bernard Kevin McGrath who was extradited from New Zealand in December to face 252 historic child sexual abuse charges.
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Magistrate Robert Stone was told in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday that if a committal hearing was held it may take several days and may need to be held by a dedicated magistrate in Sydney instead of in Newcastle.
The 66-year-old is accused of repeatedly raping, molesting and abusing dozens of young boys at church-run institutions between 1977 and 1986.
Strike Force Lozano, made up of Hunter police, was established in 2010 to investigate the complaints against him.
He was charged in June 2012, and Australia requested his extradition from New Zealand in November that year.
In June 2013, a district court judge in Christchurch, New Zealand, ruled that Mr McGrath be returned to Australia.
Mr McGrath lodged an appeal in the New Zealand High Court on grounds including a lack of emotional and financial support in Australia.
The New Zealand High Court rejected Mr McGrath’s challenge to the extradition.
The High Court ruled that all matters raised by Mr McGrath could be adequately addressed by the Australian court system.
Mr McGrath appeared via audio visual link in Newcastle Court on Wednesday where the matter was adjourned for eight weeks to May 20 to allow defence counsel more time to reply to the brief.
