AN elderly Irish priest, whose extradition has been sought in connection with alleged sexual abuse more than 40 years ago, has been arrested by police in the United States.Father Francis Markey (81) was taken before the US district court in South Bend in northern Indiana yesterday.
He had been under garda investigation in relation to two offences alleged to have taken place in a county Galway town and at the pilgrimage site at Lough Derg in county Donegal in 1968.
The alleged offences involved a young boy.
Following the completion of the garda inquiries, a file was sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and an extradition warrant was subsequently issued for the priest.
Fr Markey was arrested by US marshals at his home at Miller Court in South Bend on Monday evening. Police said he had been arrested under Irish laws, pursuant to an extradition warrant.
Deputy US marshals located his residence and when they arrived he was standing at the front porch. The arrest was described as "uneventful".
The elderly priest was taken to St Joseph's county jail overnight and he was brought back there following his court appearance yesterday. He will appear before the court again on Monday.
Fr Markey had previously administered here in the diocese of Clogher, which covers counties Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh.
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