The Irish Mirror Tracks down the Priest Who Is Being Quizzed over Child Sex Claims
By Garreth Mac Namee
A retired priest living in Ireland has been quizzed by cops after three women claimed he sexually abused them as children in the UK. Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, is being investigated by British police over alleged attacks on children over a 20-year period. The cleric retired to sleepy Ballybunion, Co Kerry, in 2002 where he has been living for more than a decade. His home on Doon Road in the town is 250 yards away from St Joseph’s secondary school where more than 200 children attend. When approached by the Irish Sunday Mirror, Fr Mortimer had nothing to say about the allegations. He told our reporter who called at his home: “I’ve no comment to make, sorry.” Canon Stanley was recently interviewed in Ireland under caution by Manchester cops investigating allegations of sexual abuse after three women claimed they were indecently assaulted by him when he was parish priest at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Norden, Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They were aged under 11 when it is alleged the offences happened between 1980 and 2000 while they were pupils at nearby St Vincent’s Primary School. It is claimed the alleged abuse was committed in a presbytery next to the school. Asked specifically if he had any comment to make about the allegations made by the three girls he added: “No...no.” Asked if he had a message for his former flock in Rochdale, England, he added: “No, sorry, no.” The 82-year old looked frail as he shuffled to the front door to speak to our reporter. However, Canon Mortimer is well known in the area and his cream coloured bungalow is located in a much sought after address in beautiful Ballybunion. As our reporter talked to Fr Mortimer at his front door, groups of local children played nearby. His home, which has a front glass sunroom, overlooks the street outside. Detective Constable Christian Chivers, of GMP’s Public Protection Unit, said: “I want to reassure local residents, and more importantly parents of children currently at St Vincent’s that these are historical incidents. “While we do not believe there is any reason for current pupils or their families to be unduly concerned, this is extremely serious and upsetting for the victims in this case, who we are continuing to provide specialist support to. “The safeguarding of pupils is without doubt a top priority for us, the school, and Salford Diocese and we are working together as part of this investigation. As part of this investigation I am appealing to former pupils who may have information about the offences under investigation or who may want to speak to us about similar matters to come forward. “I want to reassure anyone who might want to report any incidents or offences that we treat all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously and in the strictest confidence. “We have officers on hand to deal with complaints swiftly and sympathetically.” Locals have expressed their shock at the allegations made against the cleric who is an avid golfer and is a member at nearby Ballybunion Golf Club. Councillor Robert Beasley said he was shocked at the news. He told how the Canon is a well respected member of the community and that the whole town will be rocked by the investigation. He added: “Nobody here knows about this. “He’s retired but we’d always see him. He’d always hang around the golf club. “He’s well known in the area and he’d only be around the corner from me. To say we’re shocked, well it is just that. “It’s a place where everyone would know everyone. I would only know him to see. I wouldn’t be friends with him.” The Canon hasn’t been seen in the area for the past few weeks. He had drawn a lot of praise in the UK before he retired. A newsletter from the Church in Rochdale, lavishes praise, applauding Stanley’s “tremendous drive and enthusiasm” for his job. In a statement the Salford Diocese said: “We have been made aware there is an ongoing police investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse at St Vincent’s, Norden. “The diocese is co-operating fully with the police and the statutory agencies in these investigations in line with the robust safeguarding policies put in place by the Catholic Church in this country in recent years.” Police in Manchester have appealed to people with information to come forward.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.