Lancashire Evening Post [United Kingdom]
June 18, 2007
http://www.lep.co.uk/news?articleid=2960664
Police are investigating more complaints against a Catholic priest who has already admitted indecently assaulting a young girl.
Fr Edmund Cotter was due to be sentenced on Friday after he had previously admitted indecently assaulting a young girl over a three-year period.
But the hearing, scheduled to be heard at Preston Crown Court, was delayed after more people approached police with allegations against him.
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| Fr Edmund Cotter |
Cotter, 60, who was suspended from practising as a priest once the allegations were revealed, pleaded guilty to three offences of indecently assaulting the girl, aged under 14, between 1981 and 1984 when he was based at St Gregory's RC Church in Blackpool Road, Deepdale, Preston.
Police would not say how many allegations they were investigating but the Evening Post understands seven women and a man had come forward with information since Cotter pleaded guilty in April.
Det Sgt Richard McCucheon of Preston CID said: "There are other offences being investigated after a number of people came forward. All of the alleged cases originated in Preston."
Preston Crown Court adjourned the case until July 20 to allow detectives to investigate
the matters further.
Cotter remains on bail with a condition he must not have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 16.
His trial previously heard during the three-year period he committed the offences the defendant was in residence at the church. He met the victim because her family was connected with the church. A judge has already warned him prison is "an option at the forefront of the court's mind."
The priest was also told that because of his convictions by his guilty plea, he must register under the Sexual Offences Act.
Bishop of Lancaster, Patrick O'Donoghue, told the Lancashire Evening Post he would be praying for the victim and the accused.
He added: "This is a terribly sad case. We must always think of the victim and the accused. He has yet to receive a sentence and when the judge makes that decision I will be saying more."
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