BELFAST (NORTHERN IRELAND)
Belfast Telegraph
October 28, 2020
By Donna Deeney
Bishop found there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to support claims dating back 28 years
A man who alleges he was abused by a priest in Londonderry 28 years ago has criticised the Catholic Church’s investigation.
Denis Cairns was just 13 years old when he claims he was abused by a priest attached to the Nottingham diocese.
He has now received a letter from the Bishop of Nottingham, Patrick McKinney, in which the Bishop said he was “unable to reach the required moral certainty” demanded of him after considering the evidence from Mr Cairns and the priest at the centre of his allegation.
Bishop McKinney said: “It is the case that it was impossible to discern the degree of proof that is required, therefore I have decreed that due to insufficient or conflicting evidence no penalty can be applied to (named priest).”
Mr Cairns reported his alleged abuse to the then RUC in 1997, when a file was sent to the PPS. It did not pursue a prosecution on the grounds that it was Mr Cairns’ word against that of the priest he alleged abused him.
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