UNITED KINGDOM
Darlington & Stockton Times
By Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter
SUSPENDED priest Father Michael Higginbottom may never return to his parish – despite not being charged with any crime, an expert on Catholic Church sexual abuse allegations claimed last night.
Parishioners from St Augustine’s Church, in Darlington, where Fr Higginbottom was priest from 1998 until his suspension in 2004, are also not hopeful of his swift return.
A Northern Echo investigation has revealed that Fr Higginbottom, who has been suspended for nine years, was questioned – but not charged – by police after being accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy.
The former pupil who was taught by the priest at St Joseph’s College, near Wigan, received a £35,000 pay-off from the Catholic Church – which did not accept liability – before the case could go to court.
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