By Stephen Gordan
Sunday Life [United Kingdom]
June 3, 2007
http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/article2609459.ece
The internet led to the lies of Ulster child rapist Billy Adams and his money bags priest lover Fr Jeremiah McGrath's being exposed in Liverpool, Sunday Life can reveal.
Online detective work by an uncle of Adams' latest young victim led to the pair being caught and saved his 11-year-old niece from further abuse.
The uncle uncovered newspaper reports revealing the sickening truth about the Irishman who had charmed his Merseyside family, particularly his vulnerable niece who Adams spoilt with gifts paid for by Fr McGrath.
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| Child rapist: Billy Adams snared by newspaper reports on the internet |
Adams' sister Sonia Erwin has revealed how the worried uncle also tracked her down via the internet and she has remained in close contact with the devastated family ever since.
Billy Adams moved to Liverpool in late 2004 shortly after serving six years in jail for raping an eight-year-old Northern Ireland girl.
Soon after arriving in Merseyside he met the 11-year-old's dad and then, after being introduced to the family, became close to her mother while sneaking his way into the child's affections.
Unemployed Adams, who signed the Sex Offenders' Register in England on November 30, 2004, set about showering the vulnerable girl with money and gifts, including holidays, mobile phones and clothes using thousands of pounds from his Fermanagh priest lover, Fr McGrath.
Sonia Erwin, who has been in regular touch with the victims' family, said: "Billy came across as charming and easy going.
"He called himself Bill Adams and introduced the priest to the family as his uncle.
" They are a Catholic family and were very impressed that he had such a respectable relative.
"Billy claimed he had won a lot of money on the horses, which is why he had money to throw around."
Roslea priest Fr McGrath never let on that the man he'd been besotted with for 20 years was a twice convicted child abuser who he had visited in jail.
"The granny is horrified that she served this priest dinner at her own table," said Sonia.
"An uncle of the little girl became suspicious about Billy and starting searching the internet.
" He found newspaper reports online about his convictions and release from jail. He also found my name in reports," said the Bangor woman, who had publicly warned that her twisted brother would re-offend if he was released from jail.
"Somehow he got my address off the internet and he sent me a letter asking if I was the sister of Billy Adams and could I contact him.
"The family were horrified when I told them all about Billy."
By that time the uncle had already gone to the police to raise the alarm.
Billy was living in his own flat and not with the family.
But when he ran off with the girl to Blackpool, police immediately launched a search.
"The men in the family were already searching for them," said Sonia.
When cops caught up with Adams it began an 18-month legal process that was finally to lead to Adams confessing to multiple rape charges and the priest being convicted of financing his grooming of the girl.
Sonia believes the cops got to her brother just in time and that he was planning to flee with her to America where Fr McGrath owns property.
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