82-YEAR-OLD PRIEST GUILTY OF DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE IN IRVINE
An 82-year-old Catholic priest named Father Paul Moore has been convicted of sexually abusing multiple children and a student priest over a period of more than twenty years.Moore had previously confessed to his bishop more than 20 years ago that he had abused young boys, but the case was not prosecuted until recent investigations prompted victims to come forward.
One of his victims was as young as five years old.
An investigation by BBC Scotland revealed that Moore admitted in 1996 to abusing more than one boy, and that his confession was initially swept under the rug by the church authorities.
The then Bishop of Galloway, Maurice Taylor, delayed informing the authorities, sending Moore to a treatment center in Toronto instead.
The bishop stated that he believed Moore's claims were personal admissions rather than criminal allegations and that he had consulted with the authorities later.
It was only after victims came forward following a BBC documentary that the criminal case was pursued.
Moore was found guilty of abusing three children and a student priest, with testimonies describing abuse at various locations including St Mark's Primary School in Irvine and Irvine's Magnum Centre, with some crimes dating back to the 1970s.
Moore denied any confession of child abuse when confronted during trial, claiming that payments to victims were not hush money but loans.
The court also heard from multiple victims who described being sexually assaulted by Moore in different settings and times.
Now facing jail, Moore, who served in six parishes before retiring, will have time to reflect on his actions and the impact on his victims.
Bishop Taylor, aged 92, admitted Moore had expressed desire to abuse minors and acknowledged sexually involving boys while they slept and at swimming pools.
The case highlights a historical cover-up within the church and the long process of justice.
Moore's actions and the church's initial responses have been widely condemned, and the court has sentenced him for his criminal conduct.
