Questions asked of the Diocese of Salford regarding the case of Canon Mortimer Stanley

Press release - 12 May 2016

The group Concerned About Abuse in the Diocese of Salford (https://www.facebook.com/concernedaboutabuseinthecatholicdioceseofsalford/?ref=bookmarks ) is asking several questions of the Diocese of Salford and its bishop following the first day of the trial of Canon Mortimer Stanley, former parish priest of St Vincent’s, Rochdale (http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/102921/retired-priest-father-mortimer-stanley-accused-of-sexually-abusing-children-over-four-decades).

Spokesperson, Dr Philip Gilligan said,

"In December 2013 when the media first reported that Canon Stanley was being questioned under police caution, Salford Diocese gave a statement which said: “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.” (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/rochdale-catholic-priest-canon-mortimer-6381949). The “robust safeguarding policies” referred to were presumably those recommended by the Nolan Report twelve years earlier and accepted in full by Bishop Terence Brain of Salford and all the other Roman Catholic Bishops in England and Wales in November 2001.

But what the statement from the Diocese of Salford in 2013 did not report was what actions it had taken during the preceding eleven years that followed Canon Stanley’s ‘retirement’ as a parish priest in the Diocese of Salford. This has,however, become a very pertinent question now that we know that the jury at Manchester's Minshull Street Court was told on Wednesday (11 May 2016) that Canon Stanley had “retired in 2002 and returned to Ireland shortly after the mother of one of the female complainants informed teaching staff that he had inappropriately kissed her daughter” (See:http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/god-like-priest-who-playground-7941853).

We need to know from the Diocese of Salford and from Bishop John Arnold, in particular: Who in the diocese was told about the information given to the teaching staff at St Vincent’s? What action was taken? Was the matter ever discussed with the Diocesan Child Protection Co-ordinator or the Diocesan Child Protection Adviser or by the Diocesan Child Protection Commission, established at the beginning of 2002? Was the information shared with the police and other statutory agencies in 2002?

Could the matters now before the court have been dealt with more than a decade ago, if someone in the Diocese of Salford had acted differently and in accordance with the recommendations that Bishop Brain pledged to implement when he accepted them in November 2001?"

From 10 May 2016, posts are also available at https://www.facebook.com/concernedaboutabuseinthecatholicdioceseofsalford/  

Former pupils at St Bede's school to sue Salford Diocese over sexual abuse claims

See:
 http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/st-bedes-abuse-victims-sue-10787276

 

Canon Mortimer Stanley's trial due to start on 2 November 2015

Canon Mortimer Stanley, 83, former parish priest in Norden, Rochdale, appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday (6 March 2015) via a video link from Limerick in Ireland.
He pleaded not guilty to 19 separate counts of indecent assault involving 10 young girls and will now face a trial in Manchester in November.

Stanley was parish priest at St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, and the alleged victims were all pupils at the neighbouring St Vincent’s RC Primary School on Edenfield Road in Norden.

For more information, see  http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/retired-roman-catholic-priest-83-8786598

Canon Mortimer Stanley charged with 17 charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14

See http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/priest-charged-after-historic-sexual-8103605

Canon Mortimer Stanley returned from his home in Ireland to face the allegations at Bury Magistrates court on 13 November 2014
.
"The Crown Prosecution Service authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Stanley, 82, after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.
He is accused of 17 charges of indecent assault on a girl under 14 between 1977 and 1988.
The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.
The allegations involve ten victims. All the alleged victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.
Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, had twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions before returning a third time to be charged.
The priest was originally interviewed in November last year, and he returned in May this year to be further interviewed under caution about the historic allegations.
Canon Stanley, who joined the church as a parish priest in 1972, retired to his native Ireland in 2002.”

Canon Mortimer Stanley due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls

Canon Mortimer Stanley, former parish priest of St Vincent's, Rochdale may have to be extradited to face a string of sex charges involving schoolgirls. 

The Manchester Evening News reports (see http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/priest-facing-rochdale-school-sex-7892055 ):

"The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, after numerous complaints by former pupils at a Rochdale school.
The clergyman, who is now living in Ireland after retiring from St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, was first quizzed by police last year.
He is now due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls under 14.
The allegations involved ten victims and are said to have taken place between 1977 and 2002. All the victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School, which has been historically linked to the parish.
Canon Stanley, who lives in Ballybunion, Kerry, has twice travelled to Greater Manchester to answer police questions.
But the MEN understands that police are now considering extradition proceedings in order to press charges.
One source close to the investigation said Canon Stanley was being given legal advice NOT to return to Rochdale again. The source added: "Because he is not in the UK a summons may not compel him to attend. Police are now taking legal advice.”...................................

........The CPS confirmed authorisation had been given for Canon Stanley to be charged"

Canon Mortimer Stanley interviewed for the second time regarding historic sexual abuse.

See http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/87152/catholic-priest-quizzed-for-second-time-over-sexual-abuse-allegations

Canon Mortimer Stanley, 82, former priest at St Vincent de Paul RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, has been interviewed for the second time regarding historic sexual abuse.

Canon Stanley, who retired from St Vincent de Paul RC Church, Norden, Rochdale in 2002, was first interviewed last year.

Originally three women claimed that they had been indecently assaulted and sexually abused while pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School.

The women were under the age of 11 when it is alleged the offences happened. It is claimed that the incidents took place in a presbytery next to the school.

It is understood that since original reports, another six women have come forward with information.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “Detectives investigating reports of historic sexual abuse have further interviewed an 82-year-old man under caution.

“The investigation relates to the indecent assault and sexual abuse of women during their time as schoolgirls at St Vincent's Primary School in Norden, Rochdale.

“An 82-year-old man was interviewed under caution in November 2013 in relation to allegations from three women.

“Following an appeal for information a number of other women contacted police and the man has been further interviewed under caution in relation to these matters.

“A full file of evidence will now be compiled for consideration by the CPS.”