Scottish Catholic Observer

A retired Galloway priest has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing three children and a student priest across a period of over 20 years.

82-year-old retired priest Fr Francis Moore, who was known as Paul, committed the crimes between 1977 and 1996 at a number of locations across Ayrshire.

It was heard in court how he had abused three boys: one at an Irvine primary school, one at leisure centre in Irvine, and another on the beach at Irvine during the 1970s, as well as indecently assaulting a student priest in 1995.

“You have been convicted of despicable crimes involving the sexual abuse of three children 40 years and more recently of a student,” Judge Lady Rae told Moore, adding that he ‘took advantage’ of his position ‘as a minister of religion, a profession from which the public, including children, ought to be able to expect integrity, trust, support and pastoral care’.

Youngest victim

“What you did was a gross breach of trust,” she said. “The complainers have displayed considerable courage in coming forward to denounce your criminal conduct.”

She added that in going to trial, he had forced his victims to relive the traumatic experiences to which he subjected them.

Moore’s youngest victim was only five years old when abused at his primary school, while the court also heard that he groomed other victims by taking them swimming or for meals out before abusing them.

It was heard in court that allegations against Moore were initially raised in 1996, but it was only in 2015 in that a major police investigation was launched when it was raised by former Labour MSP and ex-director general of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, Graeme Pearson, at Scottish Parliament.

Nine years

An investigation by BBC Scotland revealed five years ago that in 1996, Moore had confessed the abuse to his bishop.

Bishop Emeritus Maurice Taylor of Galloway Diocese, who is 91 years old, gave evidence at trial and said Moore admitted ‘an attraction to young boys’ and ‘a desire to abuse minors’.

He was sent by the bishop to a treatment centre in Toronto, Canada and to Fort Augustus Abbey, and was removed from being a parish priest but lived in a house bought by the Church.

Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Fr Moore was found guilty and was sentenced to nine years today (April 11).

Long wait

Commenting last month on the conclusion of the trial of Fr. Paul Moore, Bishop William Nolan, Galloway Diocese said: “I am very sad that a priest has been found guilty of the abuse of those in his care.

“I feel very much for those who have suffered. I am conscious, too, that their pain has been exacerbated by this long wait for justice and that we are only now able to offer a full and proper apology.

“Notwithstanding, I hope that the trial, conviction and sentencing of the individual responsible will afford them some comfort.”