Harper’s office ‘shocked’ bandmate facing charges
The Prime Minister’s Office said it was “shocked and disturbed” Thursday after a music teacher who has played drums in a band with Stephen Harper was accused of sexually assaulting two teenage students more than 15 years ago.
Ottawa police have charged Phillip Ian Nolan, 43, with five counts each of sexual assault, sexual interference and sexual exploitation after an investigation was launched last November. The interference charges relate to both alleged victims’ being younger than 16 at the time of the alleged offences. The exploitation charges relate to Nolan’s position of authority as a teacher.
“No allegations of this nature have ever been brought to our attention,” Jason MacDonald, director of communications in the PMO, said in the statement.
“Anyone found guilty of these charges should face the full force of the law,” MacDonald added.
Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner said after question period Thursday that the charges are upsetting but he can’t fault Harper for knowing Nolan.
“I don’t know how close their friendship was or anything, but obviously it’s a serious charge and I’m sure the prime minister is upset about it as well,” Cuzner said.
Nolan is one of three regular members of Herringbone, a Celtic folk band, who have been joined by Harper on the keyboard and vocals in live performances in Toronto and Calgary.
Placed on administrative duties at work when the criminal investigation began last November, Nolan continued to play with Harper as recently as a Dec. 1, 2013, performance in Toronto. The prime minister joked at the time about how he met the members and about what upstanding citizens they are.
“I was a young MP on a ridealong with the City of Ottawa police and they were wondering about these teachers and IT professionals who were respectable middle-class guys by day and playing in these seedy bars at night,” Harper said.
“But it turned out the police had absolutely nothing on Herringbone, so I joined,” the prime minister said to chuckles.
Police allege the five incidents occurred between 1998 and 2000, when Nolan was a grades 7 and 8 teacher in Ottawa. Court documents list the charges as stemming from incidents between January and July of 2000. Ottawa police were continuing to investigate.
Nolan, who has no previous criminal record, was released on a $5,000 bond, with conditions, after appearing briefly in court by video Thursday. He was ordered not to communicate with his alleged victims, both now adult women, and seven other females.
“Mr. Nolan maintains his innocence,” said his lawyer, Lou Strezos. Nolan is next scheduled to appear in court March 12.