A Sydney priest has lost his appeal against a common assault verdict which came after he smacked an 8-year-old boy in church.
Fr Terrence Millard denied smacking the allegedly misbehaving boy at a church in Sydney’s south-west last September.
The priest’s lawyer tried to argue there were inconsistencies in accounts of the incident.
But the judge at the Parramatta District Court stated these did not produce reasonable doubt in the Crown’s case.
The judge noted that the prosecution’s case was supported by an independent witness.
No conviction has been entered against Fr Millard, but he has not returned to ministry.
The smacked boy has been receiving counselling.
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