Scottish Catholic Observer

Fr Paul Moore a retired Galloway priest has been convicted of sexually abusing three children and a student priest in crimes spanning more than 20 years.

 The 82-year-old who served at St Margaret’s Church, Irvine and St Quivox, Prestwick, committed the crimes in various locations in Ayrshire between 1977 and 1996.

He was found guilty of indecently assaulting a student priest in 1995.

The court also heard how he abused one boy at a school, another at a leisure centre and a third on the beach at Irvine in the 1970s.

The judge, Lady Rae, told Moore that he had abused his position as a priest in the “most horrible manner”.

She said it was an “appalling abuse” and the damage done to young people was immeasurable.

Admission

The court heard that the priest groomed some of his victims by taking them swimming or out for meals before sexually abusing them.

91-one-year-old retired Bishop Maurice Taylor gave evidence in the trial and told the court Moore admitted he had “an attraction to young boys” and had “a desire to abuse minors.”

The bishop sent him to a treatment centre in Toronto and to Fort Augustus Abbey in the Highlands.

Moore was removed from the pastoral ministry after his admission but continued to live in a house purchased by the church.

The priest, who was identified in court as Francis Moore but was known as Father Paul, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The allegations were first raised in 1996 but it was not until 2015 that a major police investigation was launched.

He showed no emotion as he was remanded in custody and led away to the cells.

He will be sentenced at the High Court, Glasgow next month.