Derby pervert priest scandal: Women speak out in anger over disgraced Francis Paul Cullen to leading clergyman after Mass

By Zena Hawley
Derby Telegraph
March 2, 2014

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-pervert-priest-scandal-Women-speak-anger/story-20738044-detail/story.html

TWO women have expressed their anger to a leading clergyman following a Mass intended to bring comfort and healing in the wake of the scandal surrounding disgraced priest Francis Paul Cullen.

They expressed their concerns to the Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Reverend Malcolm McMahon, after the regular Saturday evening service.

It was the first opportunity for Bishop McMahon to speak to the congregation of Christ The King, in Mackworth - where Cullen was formerly the parish priest - following his court appearance last week.

Last Monday, Cullen, aged 85, admitted 21 counts of child sex abuse. Of these, 13 took place between 1957 and 1974 during his time as the parish priest in Mackworth. They involved four former altar boys. He is awaiting sentence on March 24.

Father Andrew Cole, spokesman for the Diocese of Nottingham, who had accompanied Bishop McMahon, said:

"Bishop Malcolm wanted to be with the parishioners of Mackworth as they begin to come to terms with the enormity of what happened in their parish over a long period of time.

"Many parishioners told me how much they appreciated the Bishop’s presence. At the end of Mass, two women spoke up and expressed their anger at the abuse which had happened in their community, and the fact that it took so long to bring Cullen to justice.

"The Bishop thanked them for speaking out and listened to and responded to their concerns. He told them that he understood entirely their anger and hurt and described how the diocese had worked with the police to bring Cullen to justice and detailed what we do to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

"He also gave others a chance to talk to him personally after Mass and spent a good half hour with people who wanted to speak to him.

"The abuse of children is evil. I would urge anyone who has suffered at the hands of Cullen to speak to Derbyshire Police."

Up to 60 people attended last night's service to hear Bishop McMahon say that Cullen "did not make God the centre of his life" and his actions were a "cause of shame" for him and the "good and hardworking priests of our diocese".

He also said he expected parishioners to feel "anger, bitterness, betrayal and shame" in light of Cullen's arrest and admissions.

Five of Cullen's offences relate to two girls who were abused between 1980 and 1985 in Buxton and the remaining three counts relate to one male victim in Hyson Green, Nottingham. between 1989 and 1991.

Also, in 1991, Cullen was charged with other similar offences which are alleged to have taken place in Nottingham.

He was arrested and charged but skipped bail and went on the run for 20 years, setting up home in Tenerife.

Fresh allegations in Derby came to light in 2005 and, in 2012, a tip-off from a church-goer, passed to the Catholic Church’s safeguarding committee, led to Derbyshire Police unearthing Cullen on the holiday island.

They successfully applied to the Spanish police for Cullen to be extradited back to the UK.