The 59-year-old man appeared in court this afternoon after officers from Strike Force Glenroe apprehended him in an early-morning operation at his home in Armidale, in northern NSW, today. He was refused bail.

Police allege the man sexually abused three girls in the 1970s and 1980s. The charges include indecent assault, acts of indecency and sexual intercourse without consent. The girls were aged between 5 and 18 years old when the alleged crimes were committed.

The trio contacted police earlier this year, the commander of the NSW Police Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, told reporters in Sydney today.

He would not say if the alleged victims were related to the former priest, or to each other.

However, Superintendent Kerlatec revealed Strike Force Glenroe had been in contact with about 50 people since it was established in July and has not ruled out further charges.

The strike force is not currently focused on persistent allegations the Catholic Church had covered up previous sexual abuse allegations.

“At present the investigations are into allegations of sexual assault (but) there are other aspects of the investigation that will touch on the matters you raised,” superintendent Kerlatec said.

“It’s certainly early days in regards to the collation of evidence in respect to the alleged cover-up that has been suggested.”

He would not be drawn on whether members of the church had been cooperating with the police investigation.

“We’ve spoken to numerous people throughout this investigation,” he said. “I’m mindful people came to us in confidence, gave us information in confidence and I must honour that so I can’t go into detail about exactly who we’ve spoken to.”

Police allege the former priest committed three counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent between 1979 and 1984 against a girl at the time aged between 11 and 15.

He has also been charged with 16 offences including sexual intercourse without consent and the indecent assault of a girl aged 5 to 18 between 1975 and 1988.

Four other charges have been laid over alleged offences between 1984 and 1986.

The alleged victims have welcomed news of today’s arrest.

“They certainly had a sense of relief,” Superintendent Kerlatec said.

“A sense of relief and respect that police were able to firstly listen to what they had to say, investigate the allegations raised and take the matter to some point of finality.”