By Marjorie McIntyre
Northern Echo
May 8, 2008
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2255027.0.suspended _priest_arrested_over_child_abuse_allegation.php
A ROMAN Catholic priest who has served in parishes across the North-East has been arrested after an allegation of child abuse.
Father David Taylor, who was attached to a County Durham Catholic Mission for eight years during the Eighties, was arrested by Seaham police last Friday.
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| ARRESTED: : Father David Taylor |
Parishoners were left shocked when their priest was removed from his post at St Peter's Church, in Low Fell, Gateshead, by the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in March.
At the time, Father Dennis Tindall, child protection co-ordinator for the diocese, said: "Following information in relation to child protection matters received by church authorities, Father Taylor has been asked, without prejudice, to stand down from his post as parish priest while the matter is fully investigated."
Father Tindall described the intervention by the diocese as standard procedure within the church and it is understood that police were not involved at the point of his suspension.
But last night, a spokesman for Durham Police confirmed that 59-year-old Father Taylor had been arrested.
He said he had been bailed pending further inquiries by Seaham police in connection with an "historic" child abuse allegation.
The allegation has arisen from the time between 1981 and 1989 when Father Taylor was based at the Sisters of Mercy Mission, in Seaham Harbour, east Durham.
From 1989 to 1991, he was at St Joseph's, in Sunderland, before being posted as parish priest to St John's RC Church, in Billingham, near Stockton.
A popular priest in the Teesside community, he became closely involved in providing support to seafarers from around the world who arrived on ships visiting the Tees.
A member of St John's Church last night described how members of the church and community had been saddened when he left the parish for St Peter's in Low Fell, in 2002.
Last year, Father Taylor hit the headlines when he became the victim of a conman after being duped by heroin addict David Clee, who stole 500 from donations given to the church.
It is understood that Father Taylor was ordained in 1977 and his first appointment was at St Anthony's, in Walker, on Tyneside, where he remained until 1981, when he left to join the Seaham Harbour Sisters of Mercy Mission.
Last night, no one was available from the diocese to comment on Father Taylor's arrest.
Contact: marjorie.mcintyre@nne.co.uk
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