A former Ballarat priest who was found guilty of indecently assaulting a young girl in her own bed more than 40 years ago was too sick to attend a plea hearing, a court heard.
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Leslie Sheahan, 85, failed to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court for a mentions hearing on Wednesday morning.
His lawyer Andrew Madden told the court Sheahan, who has prostate cancer, was unfit to attend the hearing.
He provided magistrate Cynthia Toose with medical documents and requested an adjournment for the matter.
Mr Madden told the court there had also been difficulties in completing a psychological assessment of Sheahan.
The court heard a psychologist was required to visit Sheahan in his residence, as he was too unwell to attend an appointment in person.
Mr Madden said there had been delays in finding psychologist available to visit Sheahan but an appointment had been secured for next month.
Sheahan was an assistant priest of St Columba's Church at the time of the offence.
The court previously heard Sheahan assaulted the girl aged nine or 10 while she slept.
The woman who gave evidence on August 23 said Sheahan put his hands down her pants while he forced her hand on his penis.
She said the incident still haunted her.
The matter was adjourned until October 17.