This Is Gloucestershire
May 25, 2011
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Stepson-s-anger-ex-priest-named-Murphy-report/article-3590361-detail/article.html
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| Bill Carney |
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| Paul Clayton |
THE former stepson of paedophile Bill Carney last night spoke of his anger at how the Irishman had still not been brought to justice – more than 18 months after being exposed as a serial sex abuser.
Paul Clayton, a well-known journeyman woodcarver from the Cotswolds who is currently living and working in the large lay-by at Seven Springs, contacted the Echo after it emerged that Carney was living in Northleach, back in the home of his ex-wife, Mr Claytons mother. The couple, who lived in Gloucestershire before buying a guest house in Scotland, divorced late last year following the publication of the Murphy report, but Carney remained in contact and has continued to protest his innocence.
"He claims to be innocent right up to the point where he's asked to defend himself," said Mr Clayton, who makes a living selling garden ornaments.
"Then he says no comment and runs. Only a guilty man runs. We are pretty sure he's gone to Spain." In 1992, Carney was defrocked after a canonical inquiry found him guilty of abusing children.
However, it wasn't until the publication of the Murphy report 17 years later that Carney's past – and the extent of his alleged abuse – was made public.
The report – published in November 2009 – described him as "a serial sexual abuser of children" linked to at least 32 complaints and suspicions of abuse in the archdiocese of Dublin.
It sent shockwaves through Ireland and the entire Catholic Church, prompting the Pope himself to express his outrage.
Mr Clayton's mother was left devastated. For 14 years, Carney's dark past had been kept secret from her and her sons.
No one from the Irish authorities even notified Mr Clayton's mother when they married in 2004.
Mr Clayton, himself a father-of-four, said the fact that Carney still hadn't been brought to justice, and is not on the register for sex offenders used by UK police because his only two convictions for indecent assault took place in Ireland and too long ago, was a source of great distress.
He said: "What is the Murphy report? Is it a newspaper story or an official document?
"Bill Carney, who was named as one of the worst priests named in the report, can move freely beneath the radar, open a guest house, get married and divorced. There are victims in Ireland being tormented by seeing photos of him on the beach, in restaurants and playing golf.
"They too want to know why nothing has been done. The Garda (Irish police) say they are putting a case together.
"However, they don't want to know his whereabouts, and say there's nothing they can do.
"This man is clever and calculating. He plays dumb and helpless, preying on the weak and vulnerable.
"This monster destroys people's lives – he is pure evil, caring only for himself and his desires. I hope one day he gets what he deserves."
Mr Clayton accused the authorities of "faffing around".
"There is a whole group of people in Ireland trying to do something about it, but nothing seems to get done," he said.
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