DILLON: EXPAND PROSECUTION TIME

In April Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon said that all allegations of sexual abuse against Catholic priests sent to this office by the Diocese of Rockville Centre are too old to be prosecuted.  He described the investigation as thorough.  We have thoroughly reviewed every matter referred to us by the diocese, as well as allegations brought to our attention by other sources, Dillon said at an afternoon news conference.  He said all of the allegations occurred beyond the state's five-year statute of limitations and some of the cases his office reviewed could have been prosecuted had they been reported to authorities at the time.  Now, a week later, Dillon yesterday suggested that new legislation was needed to add 10 more years to the law.  It has become evident that when youngsters are sexually victimized by adults in positions of trust, it can take years before they are able to come forward and talk about what was done to them, he said in a statement released by his office.

(New York)