Disturbing allegations of rape against a Greater Manchester priest have emerged as a new report says the Catholic church prioritised its own reputation over the welfare of vulnerable children.
Father Aidan O’Reilly, formerly of St Hugh of Lincoln RC Church in Stretford, was reported to police by a man who told detectives he was taken out of lessons in primary school and raped. The allegations did not result in any criminal action, because Fr O’Reilly died in 2011, six years before they were made.But a senior detective was convinced the evidence was strong enough to result in prosecution. The Manchester Evening News has seen a letter in which the victim was told it was ‘very likely’ Fr O’Reilly would have been charged with multiple counts of rape had he been alive. Meanwhile the Diocese of Salford has confirmed it has provided ‘therapeutic support’ to the complainant, who has spoken of his experiences to the Truth Project, part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). His testimony to the Truth Project will be used to recommend changes to protect children from abuse. Using the pseudonym Frankie Paige, the man has chosen to speak out as a new report by the IICSA is published – a report which found that the Catholic Church ignored allegations and protected perpetrators. Frankie told the Manchester Evening News he was abused at St Hugh of Lincoln Church during the 1990s.
He reported that when he was at St Hugh of Lincoln RC Primary School the priest would enter the classroom and say he needed a child to help him in church, before taking him to the sacristy and subjecting him to violent sexual assaults.
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Harrison Okafor
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Judith is a believer, a lover of Christ and a Gospel freak person. A passionate gospel blogger and press writer. I work with GospelHitsNaija.net Media, no 1 Gospel music platform.
