SCOTLAND
BBC Scotland

By Mark Daly
BBC Scotland Investigations Correspondent

A retired Catholic priest accused of child sex abuse gave one of his alleged victims a cheque for £10,000, a BBC Scotland investigation has revealed.

Fr Paul Moore has denied that the cheque to the former altar boy was intended as “hush money”.

The former Ayrshire priest says it was “a loan” and a “private matter”.

Fr Moore admitted to child sex offences to the then Bishop of Galloway, Maurice Taylor, in the late 90s and was removed from the ministry.

He has never been prosecuted and lives in a home bought for him by the church.

Two years ago, the BBC revealed claims by former altar boy Paul Smyth that he’d been abused by Fr Moore. Although he gave testimony anonymously at the time, he’s since decided to waive his anonymity.

“I just want people to know…