North-West Evening Mail
September 15, 2007
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=543374
A Priest is under fire for describing his paedophile predecessor as "popular" and "hard working".
Father Edmund Cotter is in prison for indecently assaulting 11 children near Preston.
Father William Glasswell, Cotter's replacement at Our Lady of The Rosary Church, in Ulverston Road, Dalton, has leapt to his defence.
But a victim of Cotter's — the woman who tracked him down to Dalton — is furious her attacker is being supported.
The woman, now a mum-of-two, said: "It has taken nearly two years to complete the case and has caused myself and my family much distress.
"I have witnessed Cotter at all court hearings, and he never so much as looked at me let alone apologised.
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| FIVE YEARS: Father Edmund Cotter was jailed in August |
"To hear Fr Glasswell refer to Cotter able to control his urges disgusts me. Edmund Cotter is a convicted paedophile and in my opinion children are not safe around him.
"I tracked down Cotter in Dalton and witnessed him at a church service.
"In my opinion I felt I had a moral and legal obligation to report him.
"The church was informed of his abnormal interest in children years ago and it appears nothing was done.
"Maybe I would not be a victim today if the church listened.
"My only regret is that I did not come forward earlier."
After Cotter's sentencing, Fr Glasswell told the Evening Mail: "There's been very much support for him. According to his statement, he has managed to control whatever urges he had all those years ago through prayer and reflection to such an extent that no future allegations have been made."
Several Evening Mail readers were angered by the support shown.
One reader, describing themselves as 'A Very Concerned Catholic', wrote: "I think someone should remind father Glasswell that children are a gift from God and as a priest he shouldn't be taking the side of a man who has sinned against children."
In another letter, a local child protection social worker said: "For the acting priest in Dalton to speak to the media regarding Fr Cotter's popularity is yet another insult to the victims."
Helene Young, of Hartington Street, Dalton, who describes herself as an atheist, said: "The priest now dealing with the church thinks that this man has been controlling his urges. Why? Because no further victims have come forward? Did not this man tell one of his victims that they would burn in Hell if they told anyone? To say this to a committed Catholic child would be disincentive enough."
Fr Glasswell was unavailable for comment about the criticisms of him.
Cotter, who admitted attacking up to 10 girls and one boy between 1972 and 1984, was jailed for five years at Preston Crown Court in August.
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