GREENOCK (UNITED KINGDOM)
Greenock Telegraph [Greenock, Scotland]
October 7, 2026
By Claire Amber Young
A FORMER priest who abused a child at a church in Greenock has died in prison.
Vincent Cassidy, 85, died at HMP Low Moss on October 3.
In April this year, he was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of two charges of indecent assault and one of lewd and libidinous practices.
The offences, which date back to the 1970s, related to two young males, one of whom was 16 at the time, and one who was aged between eight and 12.
Cassidy’s abuse of a child in Greenock involved a number of instances of sexual contact.
He preyed on his second victim at locations including a swimming pool, a beach, and a caravan.
His crimes were also committed at locations in Paisley and Lossiemouth.
The former priest was extradited from Australia to face the charges and was previously convicted at the High Court in Paisley.
At the High Court in Glasgow in April, Judge Sheena Fraser said Cassidy’s behaviour was an ‘egregious breach of trust’, which had a ‘devastating impact’ on the victims.
Cassidy’s representative, Tony Lenehan KC, said his client did not accept the jury’s unanimous verdict of guilty.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.
“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the procurator fiscal.
“Fatal accident inquiries are held in due course.”