Prison "Forgets" to Ferry Priest Francis Paul Cullen to Derby Crown Court

Derby Telegraph
February 15, 2014

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Prison-forgets-ferry-priest-Francis-Paul-Cullen/story-20635233-detail/story.html

Father Francis Paul Cullen

A PRIEST accused of sexually abusing three altar boys missed his court appearance yesterday as prison staff "forgot" to take him.

Francis Paul Cullen, who spent 18 years working at Christ the King Catholic Church, on the Mackworth Estate, was due for a plea and case management hearing at Derby Crown Court.

But the hearing had to be postponed until Monday.

Prosecutor Sarah Knight told the judge: "It appears the prison has forgotten to bring him. The earliest he could be here now is mid-afternoon."

As other cases were listed for the courtroom, Judge Jonathan Gosling adjourned the hearing until Monday.

Cullen, 85, is accused of 27 offences. At a previous hearing, Ms Knight said four further complainants had come forward at that more charges were "likely".

The alleged offences for which he has already been charged involve boys aged seven, eight and 12.

It is claimed that they happened over a 36-year period, with the eldest one taking place 58 years ago and the most recent in 1991.

He is accused of seven indecent assaults, six charges of gross indecency and one other serious sexual offence between 1963 and 1970, when he was living in the city.

Nine of the other offences allegedly took place while he was in Nottinghamshire between 1957 and 1962.

They relate to one boy, aged between eight and 14. There are six counts of indecent assault and three of gross indecency.

The final four counts – three indecent assaults and one charge of gross indecency – allegedly happened between 1989 and 1991 and relate to a boy between 10 or 11 and one of 14. The location for these charges has not yet been revealed.

The offences are alleged to have happened in a variety of places, including a caravan, a hotel and Cullen's house.

When Cullen previously appeared before magistrates, his solicitor said that the offences would be "vigorously denied".