SCOTLAND
Herald Scotland
Thursday 15 May 2014
Gerry Braiden
Senior reporter
A priest who escaped prosecution for decades of sexual abuse allegations has been dismissed by the Catholic Church.
In an unprecedented move, the Church has removed Father Thomas Mullen despite Crown prosecutors deciding not to proceed with the case against him because too much time had passed between the alleged offences.
Leading Catholic sources said the move was indicative of a “new resolve” to get to grips with the abuse cases that have rocked the Church in recent years and the willingness of new bishops to address matters.
Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh Leo Cushley told parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunfermline of the Vatican’s decision at the weekend, claiming “the abuse of minors is something which cannot go unheeded”.
One of the alleged victims of Father Mullen has told The Herald that far from celebrating the news he “felt sorry” for the cleric. The man, now in his 30s, is suing the Church for a six-figure sum.
Two alleged victims, who are now in their 30s and 40s, gave statements and the priest was arrested three years ago, with one of the men claiming incidents took place in his home and in the priest’s car as well as during two trips to Germany and the US in the early 1990s.
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