Mr Corrigan is accused of child sex offences against three boys at Windale in the mid-1980s. He was the parish priest at Windale in the mid to late 1980s.

Judge Ralph Coolahan said someone from the prosecution needed to take responsibility for the case after the Sydney Crown prosecutor who is briefed to lead the trial did not attend Newcastle District Court yesterday.

Judge Coolahan had requested that the prosecutor attend yesterday's hearing to explain a number of issues arising from the complainant's death and how that will affect the trial.

The prosecutor's failure to attend yesterday "is discourteous in the extreme to this court", Judge Coolahan said.

Adding to the problem was that the detective in charge of the investigation is overseas and is not due to return until the first day of the trial that was set down for May 23.

Judge Coolahan vacated the two- to three-week trial and said Mr Corrigan would not be able to stand trial until the second half of this year.

"How fair is this on the accused . . . it's not fair at all, is it?" Judge Coolahan said.

Mr Corrigan's barrister, Simon Harben, SC, said the deceased complainant's evidence was crucial to 10 of the 14 charges Mr Corrigan is facing.

Mr Corrigan, 69, of Thomas Street, Mayfield, has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. He did not attend yesterday's hearing.