Patrick Colleary

Patrick Colleary is an Irish Roman Catholic priest accused of molesting a person under the age of 15 while a priest at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Tempe, Arizona.

He was suspended in May 2002 after he admitted fathering a child with a woman named Sharon Roy in 1978. She claimed the encounter was non-consensual. However, in a 1997 article, Ms. Roy spoke of a consensual physical relationship with Colleary. In 2002 Colleary was jailed for a month after being accused of molesting a young man, but charges were dismissed under the statute of limitations. ^{[citation needed]}

Colleary was indicted on a separate charge of molestation and another warrant was issued for his arrest in 2003. ^{[citation needed]} Colleary is currently living in Ireland, and has fought extradition back to Arizona, primarily the basis of the controversy surrounding Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He has denied all charges.^{[1] [2]}