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	Priest at Centre of Allegations 'Never Served' in Elphin Diocese Roscommon Herald [Ireland] January 24, 2007 http://www.roscommonherald.ie/news/story.asp?j=5334&cat=news The priest at the centre of a new child abuse controversy was never a priest of the Diocese of Elphin, according to Bishop Christopher Jones. Bishop Jones was responding to a national newspaper report over the weekend claiming that a priest who lived in the Diocese of Elphin was permitted free access to children for more than 14 years, despite a serious allegation of child abuse being made against him. The report revealed that the priest, who has since retired and has not been named, was based overseas when the alleged abuse was perpetrated. In 1993, a woman from his previous diocese, made an official complaint that she was abused as a child by the priest. The allegation was not investigated until 2002 and no charges followed. In response to the newspaper article over the weekend, Bishop Jones this week said that the priest at the centre of the controversy "never sought or received an appointment to ministry in this Diocese". "The priest referred to in the article has never been a priest of the Diocese of Elphin. He is of advanced years. Having spent his full working career in a foreign Diocese until his retirement in 1987 when he came to live within the Diocese of Elphin. He never sought or received an appointment to ministry in this Diocese," Bishop Jones said in the statement. Bishop Jones also confirmed that the allegation stemmed from the priest's ministry overseas and that following an investigation no charges followed. He also stated that the priest no longer lived in the Diocese of Elphin. "During his retirement an allegation arose regarding his time in the foreign Diocese. In 2002 the allegation was investigated by the civil authorities in the foreign Diocese. They took no further action. The Irish civil authorities have also been advised of this case and the priest no longer resides in the Diocese of Elphin. It is understood that the priest has always strenuously denied the allegation," Bishop Jones said. The Bishop went on to stress the importance of child protection measures and appealed to members of the community to highlight any concerns they might have to him or to the civil authorities. "The Diocese has invested much time, energy and resources in the area of child protection and is currently in the process of training specialised personnel for every parish in the Diocese," the Bishop concluded.
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