SF Urges Anyone with Information on "Paedophile Priest" to Speak out

Irish News
April 2, 2015

http://www.irishnews.com/news/sf-urges-anyone-with-information-on-paedophile-priest-to-speak-out-1423894


SINN Fein has urged anyone with information about the sexual abuse of children to contact police, after a deceased Catholic priest was accused of abusing "hundreds" of children in Newry.

The party was speaking after the Catholic Church confirmed that 11 allegations have been made against Fr Seamus Reid since 1997.

One person came forward before the priest, pictured right, died in 2001, with the rest of the claims being made since.

His case was also raised by Bishop John McAreavey during a report on the Diocese of Dromore carried out by the Church's National Board for Safeguarding Children in 2011, although Fr Reid was not publicly named.

Claims have been made that some of the allegations relate to inappropriate touching, sometimes when children were attending confessions.

Last month Brendan Curran, a former Sinn Fein chairman of Newry and Mourne District Council, publicly claimed that a "paedophile priest" in the city "abused hundreds of children in our local schools".

He also alleged that he was previously ordered by a senior republican "to drop the issue" because it was "negative campaigning".

Sinn Fein last night rejected the accusation. "Sinn Fein has no knowledge whatsoever of the claims being made by Mr Curran," he said.

"If Brendan Curran has any information on the alleged sexual abuse of children by a priest or anyone else then he should bring that information immediately to the proper authorities, An Garda Siochana or to the PSNI."

"Sinn Fein doesn't investigate allegations of sexual abuse; that is the role of the police north and south."

Earlier this week a spokesman for Dromore diocese confirmed that an allegation was made against Fr Reid in 1997, four years after he retired, when a person approached social services.

It is understood the matter was not referred to the RUC at the request of the alleged victim.

The spokesman said further allegations received after the priest died "were reported to the statutory authorities in line with national child protection guidelines".

Bishop McAreavey also urged anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse by any priest of the diocese to come forward.