Sex abuse priest Francis Cullen: Ministy of Justice on why hunt for Derby pervert was called off, by Martin_Naylor, Derby Telegraph (February 26, 2014)

Sex abuse priest Francis Cullen: Ministy of Justice on why hunt for Derby pervert was called off

A SEARCH warrant for on-the-run paedophile priest Francis Cullen was withdrawn because it was believed he could not realistically be found.

The Ministry of Justice say “a judge or a magistrate” would have signed a document calling off the warrant nine years after he skipped bail in 1991.

But the department said the warrant would have been reissued if, during further investigations, circumstances changed and Cullen could have been found.

On Monday, the 85-year-old, who was parish priest at Christ the King, in Mackworth from 1960 to 1978, pleaded guilty to 21 sexual abuse offences.

Four of his victims were altar boys during his time in Derby.

In 1991 he was arrested and charged with separate offences in Nottingham but he jumped bail and went on the run for 20 years.

Derbyshire police and the Catholic Diocese in Nottingham tracked him down to Tenerife, where he was living.

Spanish police then extradited him.

His disappearance raised question marks about how he was allowed to remain at large for two decades.

An HM Courts & Tribunals Spokesperson said: “The courts, police and CPS regularly review old cases and arrest warrants.

“If it is believed there is no prospect of an arrest being made a decision can be made to withdraw a warrant.

“This decision is made by a judge or magistrate based on the information before them.

“However the case can always be listed again and the warrant reissued if the circumstances change and there is a prospect of an arrest.”