Police Deny Missing Priest Abuse Claims

Cornish Guardian
January 11, 2013

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Police-deny-missing-priest-abuse-claims/story-17827228-detail/story.html

STILL MISSING: The Reverend Barry Kinsmen has still not been found. He is thought to have taken his own life on New Year's Eve after leaving a note in his car at Porthmissen.

The Reverend Barry Kinsmen.

FURIOUS friends of a missing retired priest from Padstow have condemned those spreading rumours that his disappearance was connected to a police investigation into child abuse.

The Reverend Barry Kinsmen is believed to have taken his own life on New Year's Eve; a note was found in his blue Ford Ka, which was abandoned at Porthmissen. His body has yet to be found.

There has been gossip in Padstow and elsewhere that Mr Kinsmen was interviewed by the police on Christmas Eve over child abuse allegations dating back 20 years.

However, police have confirmed there was no current investigation under way and Mr Kinsmen, 72, had not been interviewed on Christmas Eve or at any time last year.

He failed to turn up for a lunch engagement on New Year's Eve and has not been seen by family and friends since.

Extensive searches by Padstow's lifeboat crew and local coastguards have failed to find him.

Mr Kinsmen's neighbour, Padstow town councillor and former mayor Keltie Seaber described the rumours as vicious and unfounded, saying: "Barry was a friend who I had known all my life.

"He taught me at Padstow School and I worked with him when he was head teacher at St Issey. The people who are spreading these malicious rumours should be ashamed of themselves.

"Barry was well loved in Padstow and these rumours are deeply distressing."

Padstow's vicar the Reverend Chris Malkinson also condemned those who were spreading allegations about the retired priest.

"They are absolutely not true and rumours are totally unfounded," he said.

"We just need to find Barry now and put him to rest.

"It's been very difficult for the lifeboat crew who have been desperate to find him, but it's just not happened."

Mr Kinsmen was a Cornish bard, and this week Cornwall's grand bard Maureen Fuller paid tribute to him.

"He gave his time generously to Cornish projects and, having been a teacher, was very enthusiastic in furthering the Cornish knowledge to everyone, especially children," she said.

"He was keen that Cornish children should be taught Cornish history and culture, and did so as head of St Issey VA School from 1966 to 1978.

"He was also a hard- working member of the team who collected information on bards from North Cornwall for last year's annual Gorsedh, held in Camelford.

"Gorsedh Kernow extends its sympathy to his family and friends and remains in gratitude for all that he has achieved for the bards of Cornwall."