UNITED KINGDOM
Derby Telegraph
By Martin Naylor
THE harrowing words of the victims of paedophile priest Francis Paul Cullen were heard for the first time as he was jailed for 15 years for the sexual abuse of seven children.
“You used to say when you joined the priesthood you had a calling from God.
“You were correct, you had a calling, but it was a calling from the Devil.
“I hope you get to meet your maker.”
The words, from a hand-written note by a Derby man, described in court as Victim M of “predatory paedophile” Cullen were read to a silent courtroom at Derby Crown Court.
Penned by a man now aged 58, but who was abused in Mackworth for six years between the ages of eight and 14, the full impact of the statement did not stop there.
“I have never married or had children,” it continued.
“Because of what you did to me I felt I was damaged goods, worthless as a potential father and husband. I was eight years old and you took my innocence away from me. One of the proudest things I have done in my life is to help bring you to justice.
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