By Ellen Branagh
Daily Record
October 14, 2011
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2011/10/14/police-hunting-priest-over-sex-abuse-claims-86908-23488363/
 |
Police are hunting a Catholic cleric accused of historic sex offences after he failed to return to a police station for questioning.
Father Laurence Soper is wanted over allegations of child abuse, reported to date back to when he taught at St Benedict's School, a private independent Catholic school which is part of Ealing Abbey in west London.
Fr Soper, who was abbot of Ealing Abbey from 1991 to 2000, is believed to have been living in a monastery in Rome, but was due to return to London to answer bail in March.
He failed to show up and police are now looking for him, with possibilities of a European Arrest Warrant being issued if he is thought to be somewhere in Europe.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "An 80-year-old man was arrested on September 22 on suspicion of an historic sexual assault.
"He was bailed to a west London police station to March 2011. The man failed to appear and inquiries are being made to trace him."
A message on Ealing Abbey's website from Abbot Martin Shipperlee condemned his predecessor's failure to co-operate with police.
It said: "Dear Parishioners, many of you will have read news reports concerning my predecessor as abbot, Fr Laurence. Accusations have been made against him concerning offences against children.
"Early in March he left the monastery in Rome where he had been living to travel to London for an appointment with the police. Unfortunately he failed to keep that appointment and we have heard nothing from him since and all efforts to contact him have been without success.
"On previous occasions he had returned by arrangement to meet with the police and he was trusted to do so.
"I cannot comment on the details of the police investigation but I must condemn without reservation his failure to co-operate with them.
"I have not made any statement about this before at the request of the police. Please keep in your prayers all those who have been hurt by what Fr Laurence has done."
It is not the first time St Benedict's School has hit the headlines. In October 2009 a Catholic priest referred to as the "devil in a dog collar" was jailed for eight years over a string of sex attacks on boys.
Father David Pearce was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court after pleading guilty to a series of indecent assaults and sexual attacks on five young boys, four under 14, at St Benedict's School over a period of 36 years.
Judge Andrew McDowall told him: "Only the recording angel will know what was going on, what was done and what was not done.
"At some later stage, a higher court than this will be deciding the exact balance to be put upon your conduct."
After the case, one of his victims described him as the "devil in a dog collar".
Pearce admitted 10 counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault on five victims between 1972 and 2008.
Abbot Martin Shipperlee announced an independent review into the case, and a review of safeguarding arrangements, policies and procedures is on the abbey's website, with a range of recommendations.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.