Southern Daily Echo
April 4, 2009
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/4266219.No_charges_against_Southampton_vicar_over_sex_allegations/
A HAMPSHIRE vicar who was arrested and questioned on suspicion of historic child sexual abuse has been released without charge.
As revealed in the Daily Echo, the Rev Canon Barry Fry was arrested over allegations of sexual abuse and indecent assault relating to a child.
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| The Rev Canon Barry Fry |
The Southampton vicar was questioned at a pre-arranged interview at a Southampton police station in February.
He was not charged with any offence and police have now dropped their investigation into the matter, because of a lack of evidence.
A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "Following investigations, no further action is being taken against the man."
Diocese bosses suspended the 59-year-old Church of England vicar at St Barnabas Church in Lodge Road, Southampton, from his duties in February as a result of the allegations, and services at the church were temporarily taken by a replacement.
He was banned from exercising or performing any rite or duty of the office of priest until the police investigations were concluded.
Mr Fry, who is well known in the Southampton church community and lives in the vicarage in Rose Road opposite his church, has now been reinstated and is back leading the services at the church.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Winchester, to which Mr Fry's parish church belongs, said: "In line with the terms of the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003, under which the suspension of Rev Canon Barry Fry was imposed, it was duly lifted following the decision by the police that no further action would be taken."
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