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.”...................................
