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	Priest Arrested in Child Abuse Probe By Fiona Thompson Sunderland Echo May 8, 2008 http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Priest-arrested-in-child-abuse.4062987.jp A Catholic priest has been arrested as part of an investigation into child abuse claims. Father David Taylor, who has previously served in Seaham and Sunderland, has been questioned by Durham Constabulary in connection with what it has called an "historic child abuse allegation". No further details have been revealed by the force, but it has confirmed a 59-year-old man has been released on bail pending further inquiries. Fr Taylor was removed from his church of St Peter's in Low Fell at the end of February as chiefs from the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle investigated his past. Although no arrest was made at the time, authorities said they were liaising with officers from Durham. The priest was ordained in 1977 and was first appointed to a church in Walker, Newcastle, and moved to work in the Seaham area for eight years from 1981. He was then parish priest at St Joseph's in Paxton Terrace, Millfield, Sunderland from 1989 to 1991. From there he has gone on to be based with parishes in Billingham and Teesside, joining St Peter's in 2002. The church has said he is currently on what it calls administrative leave, where an official is given leave without prejudice. Paul Young, safeguard officer with the diocese, said: "The police have arrested and interviewed Fr David and have given him bail, he has not been charged at this stage. "When allegations are reported to us we always work closely with the police and other statutory bodies to ensure the safety of our children and young people. "Protecting them must always be our priority. "The diocese has given and continues to give support to those who have been harmed. "Church communities should be places where everyone can feel safe. "Harming children is the very opposite of the church's message and is never acceptable. "The Catholic church has done a great deal since 1994, and more recently through detailed reviews, to make our church communities feel safer. "Any concerns or anxieties can be passed on to the statutory authorities or to us and they will be thoroughly investigated as in this case. "In February, Fr Taylor stood down from his post as parish priest of St Peter's, Low Fell, Gateshead, while this matter was being investigated. "In light of the current developments this situation will continue." A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: "We can confirm a 59-year-old Roman Catholic priest was arrested by Seaham Police in connection with a historic child abuse allegation and is currently on police bail pending further inquiries." Last year the priest became a victim of a conman who duped him out of a 500 donation to his church. The heroin addict, who had asked Fr Taylor for money so he could visit his sick mother in the University Hospital of North Durham, was later jailed for two years for theft, burglary and drug possession. Contact: fiona.thompson@northeast-press.co.uk
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