NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News
A priest who was investigated but never charged after concerns were raised about the safeguarding of children is to retire after a Church inquiry.
Fr Paul Symonds stepped aside from ministry in County Antrim in 2009 to facilitate a police investigation.
After a decision was made to not to prosecute him, the Catholic Church resumed its internal inquiry.
The Down and Connor diocese said this concluded he will “live as a retired priest without any public ministry”.
Fr Symonds is originally from England, but was working as a priest in Ballymena, County Antrim, when the police investigation began.
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