RCMP search Lahey's homes, office

RCMP in Nova Scotia have searched the former homes and offices of Raymond Lahey, the Roman Catholic bishop facing child-pornography charges.

Members of the RCMP and provincial child internet exploitation unit executed a search warrant at the bishop's former residence in Sydney on Wednesday. One computer was seized. 

On Tuesday, investigators executed search warrants at Lahey's former home and office in Antigonish. RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Brigdit Leger said two computers and some external media devices were seized but didn't give details.

Ronnie Horne, who lives a few houses away from the official residence of the Bishop of Antigonish, said he noticed activity on the property.

"When I come home, there was two to three cars in there, and I just thought it was local people," he said Wednesday.

Leger said the searches were based on information that came out of the investigation by the Ottawa Police Service, not any new allegations.

"Based on the totality of both of those items, the investigation here in Nova Scotia and the information received from Ottawa police service, at that point in time reasonable and probable grounds were gathered which allowed for the execution of the three search warrants," she said.

Lahey, 69, who brokered a $15-million settlement for victims of sexual abuse by priests of the Antigonish diocese in Nova Scotia, was stopped at the Ottawa airport on Sept. 10. His laptop was seized, but he was allowed to go.

Ten days later, on Sept. 25, Ottawa police charged him with possession of child pornography and importation of child pornography.

Lahey stepped down as bishop of Antigonish the next day, before the allegations against him were made public. He turned himself in to police on Oct. 1 and was released from custody on $9,000 bail.

Lahey's next court date is Nov. 4 in Ottawa. He is staying at a priest's residence run by the Ottawa archdiocese.