UNITED KINGDOM
Concerned About Abuse in the Catholic Church
William Green the former parish priest of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Wigan was arrested on 27 December 2007. In August 2008 he was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of 26 offences of indecent assault. On 1 October 2008, he was sentenced to six years imprisonment (Case No: T20080502).
In 2008, the Manchester Evening News reported, “Father William Green 67, had pleaded guilty to 27 assaults on six – boys aged between 11 and 15 at St Bede’s School in Alexandra Park while head of religious education, and a deputy prefect there, and assault on an eight year old at a different school at which he had previously taught. Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone told Green “You systematically and sexually abused these boys, who were vulnerable and impressionable, and they were groomed by you for the purposes of your own sexual gratification.”
You abused them in school, on school trips and on church-related activities, and you procured the trust and respect of families of several of your victims. You breached their trust and friendship remorsefully and repeatedly.”
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