Jury Convicts Bradford Priest of Sex Assault on Teenage Girl

By Claire Armstrong
Telegraph and Argus
March 15, 2013

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10293100.Bradford_priest_found_guilty_of_sex_assault_on_teenage_girl/

William Finnegan

A Roman Catholic priest in Bradford has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

William Finnegan, 59, had revealed in his trial that he had secretly got married in 1999, despite having taken a vow of celibacy.

He was standing trial accused of forcefully kissing a girl, 17, and touching her bottom on Easter Sunday last year while he was serving as a priest at St Clare's RC Church in Fagley.

The jury of nine women and three men today found him guilty, by a majority of 11 to one.

Finnegan gave no reaction as the verdict was read to the court, but there were gasps from the packed public gallery.

Finnegan’s sentencing has been adjourned for a report to be drawn up by the Probation Service, but the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, warned him one sentencing option was imprisonment.

He will also have to sign the sex offenders’ register.