Priest Cautioned over Birmingham Shopping Centre Toilet 'Moment of Madness'

By Katy Hallam
Birmingham Mail
May 26, 2013

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/father-pat-costello-cautioned-over-4015656

Father Pat Costello made lewd comments to a 17-year-old boy before stroking his shoulder

An elderly priest has been given a police caution after lewd behaviour in a Birmingham shopping centre toilet.

Sixty-eight year-old Father Pat Costello is said to have approached a 17-year-old youth in a bathroom and made lewd comments before stroking him on the shoulder last Wednesday.

He was quickly arrested after security staff at the centre called for the police.

Costello, an Irish priest in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, said he had behaved “shamefully” in a “moment of madness”.

Now his biggest concern is that his family will suffer because of his “terrible” actions. “I am prepared to accept all the consequences of my action and any punishment including losing my priestly ministry,” he reportedly said.

“I agree what I did was frightening for him. It was wrong and terrible.

“As a priest I behaved shamefully. To do that in a toilet is a moment of madness.”

The caution – used in England when guilt is admitted but a court prosecution is not deemed necessary – will mean that Costello cannot work with children, although he is not being placed on the sex offender register.

It will, however, show up on criminal record checks.

Detective Sergeant Sarah Little, from West Midland Police public protection unit, said: “A 68-year-old man has received a police caution following a complaint of lewd behaviour in a toilet at a Birmingham shopping centre.

“Police were alerted by security staff to the incident at around 3.35pm on Wednesday May 15.

“Officers attended and arrested the man on suspicion of sexual assault.

“The victim has been informed of the outcome.”

Costello formerly held a senior administrative position as a provincial superior of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament – a Catholic religious order with around 1,000 members worldwide.

The Irish priest, who was ordained in 1983, is originally from Limerick but is currently based in Rome.

He has spent time studying in the religion’s parishes in Brussels, India and was also based in Glasgow.