NO CONTACT Catholic Church apologise but yet to speak to sex abuse victims after Ayrshire beast priest jailed for nine years

By Laura Murray
Scottish Sun
April 14, 2018

https://goo.gl/gZ7Fnt

Brave Andi Lavery waived his anonymity to slam Father Francis Moore

Father Francis Moore was sentenced to nine years

He was found guilty and jailed at the High Court in Glasgow last month

SEX abuse victims have NOT been contacted by the Catholic Church after a paedophile priest was jailed for nine years.

Father Francis Moore, 82, repeatedly raped a five-year-old boy, abused other youths and a student priest between 1977 and 1996.

The church has apologised to victims Paul Smith and Andi Lavery but they haven’t been in touch with them since the Ayrshire beast was caged.

Father Tom Boyle, speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, said: “I can’t say for certain that we knew who Paul Smyth and Andi Lavery were.

“As far as I am aware there has been no contact, no. I would like to think that the Diocese of Galloway will now be I touch to see what help we can provide.

“Whatever help they seek from us, we will try to do something for them.

“Bishop Nolan apologised as soon as the trial was over to the victims. I am sure that Bishop Nolan will be in touch with them now.”

Andi Lavery, 46, who was just five-years-old when he was abused, said the horrific ordeal had “poisoned” his life.

He told how the abuse took place for the first time when he was sent to Moore by his teachers after drawing a picture of Jesus Christ with nipples.

The man said he was crying and Moore embraced him and then sexually abused him.

The court heard the priest groomed some of his victims by taking them swimming or out for meals before sexually abusing them.

The allegations against Father Moore were first raised in 1996 but it was not until 2015 that a major cop probe was launched after former top cop and former Labour MSP Graeme Pearson flagged the matter in parliament.

Moore, who was also known as Father Paul, was found guilty after trial at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Judge Lady Rae told him: “You have been convicted of despicable crimes involving the sexual abuse of three children 40 years ago and more recently of a student priest.

“The most serious of these crime involved the repeated sodomy of a little boy aged five.”

Father Boyle admitted dealing with survivors had been a problem in the past.

He apologised to the victims and insisted that safeguarding training and awareness would now be “state-of-the-art”.

He said: “I reiterate what Bishop Nolan said at the end of the trial, and to Paul Smith and Andi Lavery: I am sorry these things occurred.

“We will reach out to them, we will ensure that we can provide whatever help is appropriate for them in as far as we can. We are in the process of beginning that.

“For more than 10 years now, the policy of the bishops in Scotland has been that as soon as any allegation is made, it is reported immediately to the authorities.

“There is no sweeping under the carpet. There is no moving people around. That’s a thing of the past – that’s all gone – and it will not return to the Catholic Church in Scotland.”