Priest's Suicide after Being Arrested on Suspicion of Historic Sex Abuse
By Tyler Mears
A Roman Catholic priest arrested on suspicion of historical child sexual abuse died on the day he was due to report to police. An inquest held at Aberdare Coroner’s Court on Wednesday heard how Father Ernest Sands, 67, was found hanged at his home in Hirnant, Oswestry, on April 11. Father Sands was arrested last year on suspicion of sexually abusing five boys aged between 11 and 15. The allegations related to him serving as a Catholic priest in the late 1970s and 1980s. He had been due to answer to bail on April 11, but was found dead at an address in Oswestry on the same day. Suicide note left on bed During the inquest, a statement from PC Joe Parker, the attending officer at the scene of Father Sands’ death, was read to the court by Coroner Graham Hughes. PC Parker, an officer at Dyfed Powys-Police , said he was called to Father Sands’ home at 6.35pm on April 11, following a request from Lancashire Police to check on his welfare. After arriving at the property, PC Parker said he noticed the shed door was open and later discovered Father Sands dead inside. Following a search of the address, PC Parker said he found a note, dated April 10, on the bed of the master bedroom. Worked in UK, Rome and the US The inquest heard how the contents of the note explained Father Sands’ intentions of taking his own life and was signed “Ernie”. As part of the evidence, Coroner Hughes also read a statement from Father Sands’ brother Philip, in which he referred to his older brother as “Ernie”. In his statement, Mr Sands described how his brother had attended a school in Manchester before studying to become a Roman Catholic Priest in Rome. He was ordained in 1973 and over the years held positions in the UK, Rome and the US. Mr Sands said on April 6, five days before his brother was found dead, Father Sands went to stay with him for three days to celebrate his 67th birthday. The inquest heard how that was the last time Mr Sands saw his brother and on the evening of April 11, he was woken by police officers who notified him about the death. After hearing about the incident, Mr Sands telephoned his brother’s number and a police officer at the scene told him about the note that had been left. Coroner Hughes said Mr Sands was satisfied that the note explained why his brother took his own life but was “totally unaware and shocked” at the issues mentioned in it. Suicide verdict A statement from pathologist Dr Cerys Burrows was also read during the inquest and confirmed the cause of Father Sands’ death was from hanging. In his concluding remarks, Coroner Hughes said: “There is no evidence from police that anyone else was involved in the events on April 11 of this year, nor is there any evidence to suggest there was a disturbance at the scene. “So I can conclude with some certainty that Mr Sands acted deliberately and alone.” A verdict of suicide was recorded.
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