Niagara sex-abuse priest back behind bars

Share Button

Hamilton Spectator

07 October 2010

Donald Grecco, a former priest from the Diocese of St. Catharines, runs from a Hamilton court house earlier this year.
ARRESTED Donald Grecco, a former priest from the Diocese of St. Catharines, runs from a Hamilton court house earlier this year.  Jim Rankin/Toronto Star
     

BELLEVILLE, ONT. A former priest convicted of sex abuse is back behind bars for breaching the terms of his release.

Donald Grecco was arrested Wednesday by OPP in Prince Edward County. Police may release more information Thursday.

It was not immediately clear what condition had been allegedly breached. Such a charge typically results in automatic jailing. Common release conditions include residing at a specified address and reporting regularly to police.

Grecco pleaded guilty in March to sexually abusing three former altar boys between 1978 and 1986. Despite complaints to the diocese, he remained a priest for nearly two more decades.

He was due to be sentenced in a Hamilton court Oct. 29. The sentencing hearing has twice been delayed due to Grecco’s unspecified health problems.

The 70-year-old Picton man admitted in April to sexually molesting three altar boys in the 1970s and 80s.

He was a priest in Welland, Fonthill, Niagara Falls and Cayuga.

One of his victims, Mike Blum, has launched a $3 million civil suit against Grecco.

The St. Catharines Diocese and its former bishop, James Wingle are also named in the case.

Blum was allegedly molested by Grecco in Cayuga in 1978 when he was 14.

The Canadian Press

Leave a Reply