Abuse charges dropped against former Saskatchewan-based priest

Prosecutors in Scotland have dropped historical physical and sexual abuse charges against a retired Catholic priest who used to live in Saskatchewan.

According to the BBC, Father Robert MacKenzie, 87, was accused of committing offences at two Catholic boarding schools from the 1950s to the 1980s. He faced 18 charges.

MacKenzie was living in Saskatchewan when his extradition was ordered. He appealed the order, but was sent back to Scotland in February 2020 to face the charges.

MacKenzie denied the allegations, but was held in custody for 13 months before being released on bail in March.

Late last week, prosecutors said they were dropping the case but said it wouldn’t be appropriate to give their reasoning.

In April of 2019, the Archdiocese of Regina confirmed the charges against MacKenzie but said there weren’t any allegations against him during his time in the province.

— With files from The Canadian Press