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	Parish Priest Will Not Face Child Abuse Trial The Bolton News March 14, 2011 http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/districtatog/8907171.Parish_priest_will_not_face_child_abuse_trial/ A POPULAR parish priest who was wrongly accused of abusing a child could return to his role within weeks, church leaders confirmed last night. Father Geoff Hilton, who is the priest at St Osmund's RC Church in Long Lane, Breightmet, is being given time to recover from his ordeal before returning to the church. He was arrested last November in connection with an alleged incident at a church in Burnage, Manchester, in the 1980s, where Fr Hilton served before moving to Bolton. The 54-year-old former policeman had been on bail since his arrest and was never charged with any offence. Following an investigation the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided on Friday to take no further action. Last night the Rev Michael Cook, the Catholic Dean of Bolton, said: "This is good news and I know that the parishioners of St Osmund's and the clergy of this deanery are greatly relieved at this development. We will all continue to support Fr Hilton in whatever way is necessary." Fr Hilton was placed on administrative leave while the investigation was being carried out Fr Cook added: "The rigorous national policies employed by our church require the diocese to follow set procedures in dealing with any priest who has been placed on administrative leave. "There is also a need to give Fr Hilton some time and space to come to terms with the trauma of the accusation he has faced over these past months now that the CPS decision is known. "It is intended the procedures be completed by the beginning of April."
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