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Trial of priest accused of Grafton Close children's home abuse in the 1970s and 1980s begins today

Local Guardian
February 16, 2015

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/11796145.Trial_of_priest_accused_of_Grafton_Close_children_s_home_abuse_begins_today/

Father Anthony McSweeney (pictured at a hearing in September) denies abusing boys in the Grafton Close children's home in the 1970s and 1980s

The children's home in Grafton Close has now been turned into flats.

The trial of a priest accused of abusing boys in a children's home in the 70s and 80s has heard his cleaner found an idecent video at his home as far back as 1998.

Catholic priest Father Tony McSweeney, who was a friend of John Stingemore, the manager of the Richmond Council-run care home, denies four counts of indecent assault and four of taking or possessing indecent images of children.

Mr Stingemore was due to be on trial as well but he died on February 2 at his home in Hastings.

Prosecutor Sarah Plaschkes QC said: "From the time before he became a priest, he has had a sexual interest in teenage boys.

"Over the decades on various occasions, he has taken indecent images of teenage boys.

"In 1998 his cleaner found a video on his home. Finally when he was arrested in 2013, indecent images were found on his laptop.

"Between 1979 and 1981 the prosecution say he sexually abused teenage boys.

"At that time, he was a close friend of a man called John Stingemore. He was the officer in charge of Grafton Close, a residential home for vulnerable children.

"That gave this defendant the opportunity to sexually abuse teenage boys who were in care.

"It is our case the defendant sexually abused three boys in that children's home."

Father McSweeney arrived at court today in a black suit, red tie and a white shirt with a walking stick. He has been given a hearing device for use for the trial which is expected to last two weeks.

The charges relate to Grafton Close children's home in Hanworth which was then run by Richmond Council.




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