NORTHERN IRELAND
The Scotsman
By Gary Kelly, PA
An MP called on a bishop today to explain why he allowed a priest who paid out compensation to an alleged sex abuse victim to continue working in his parish.
It emerged today that the priest, who has not been identified, paid a five-figure sum out of court to settle allegations of sexual abuse against him.
The alleged incident involving an 18-year-old man is said to have happened at a parochial house in the Londonderry area in 1992.
The alleged victim claimed that the priest made sexual advances towards him after he visited the parochial house for counselling on sex abuse.
A civil action was begun by the man two years ago and was settled out of court last October with no admission of liability by the priest.
In a statement, the Bishop of Derry Dr Seamus Hegarty, confirmed he was aware of the allegations made against the priest and had allowed him to continue to work in the Derry diocese.