UNITED KINGDOM
The Northern Echo
Exclusive by Joe Willis, Regional Chief Reporter
A CATHOLIC priest suspended from his post at a Darlington church has been charged with abusing two schoolboys, The Northern Echo can reveal.
Father Michael Higginbottom will appear in court next month to face allegations that he assaulted the boys while working at St Joseph’s College, in Upholland, near Wigan, in the late 1970s.
Lancashire Constabulary said in a statement issued to the Echo last night: “Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Michael Higginbottom, 72, of West Farm Road, Newcastle, was charged on Monday, February 8 with six offences relating to non-recent sexual abuse.
“The offences were allegedly committed while Mr Higginbottom was working as a Catholic priest at St Joseph’s College in Upholland in the late 1970s.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.