Norwich Priest Arrested in Abuse Investigation

Network Norwich
February 7, 2013

www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/343610/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Regional_News/Norwich/Norwich_priest_arrested_in_abuse_investigation.aspx


A Norwich priest was one of two men arrested on February 6 by detectives probing allegations of child sex abuse centring on a guesthouse and a children’s home in London.

The priest, Father Tony McSweeney, 66, from St George’s Church in Norwich, and another man aged 70 from East Sussex were arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.

The allegations, dating from the early 1980s, are linked to the former Elm Guest House and the now closed Grafton Close children’s home in Barnes, south west London.

Fr David Bagstaff, diocesan administrator of the diocese of East Anglia, said: “The safeguarding of children and vulnerable people is of paramount importance to the Catholic Church and the diocese is co-operating fully with the police in this investigation.”

Fr McSweeney was appointed a director at Notre Dame High School in Norwich in April last year but has now voluntarily resigned and has no connection with the school. He has been a priest for almost 28 years, celebrating his silver anniversary in February 2009 with a service in Norwich.

Fr McSweeney is the priest of St George’s Catholic Church on Sprowston Road in the north of the city.