UNITED KINGDOM
ITV

RONKE PHILLIPS ITV LONDON SENIOR CORRESPONDENT

The trial of a Catholic priest accusing of abusing young boys at a children’s home in Hounslow has begun at Southwark Crown Court today.

Father Tony McSweeney denies sexually abusing youngsters at Grafton Close Children’s home in Hanworth in the 70’s & 80’s

The prosecutor, Sarah Plaschkes QC alleges that on various occasions McSweeney took indecent photographs of teenage boys, and that in 1998 his cleaner found a video in his home. When he was arrested indecent images were found on his laptop.

The court heard the Priest was a friend of John Stingemore, the man in charge of Grafton Close, a residential home for vulnerable children at the time.

The prosecution allege McSweeney abused three boys at the home.