Priest jailed over ‘devastating’ abuse of young parishioners in 1970s

A former priest who was extradited to face justice in Scotland has been jailed for nine years after being convicted of sex offences in the 1970s.

Vincent Cassidy, 84, was convicted of two charges of indecent assault and one of lewd and libidinous practices which had a “devastating” impact on the victims.

The offences related to two young males, one of whom was 16 at the time and the other being aged between eight and 12.

A court was told that Cassidy’s abuse was an “egregious breach of trust”, where he used his position as a priest to gain the confidence of his parishioners and their families.

For the first victim, the abuse took place at a church in Greenock and involved a number of instances of sexual contact.

For one of Cassidy’s victims, who is now deceased, the sexual offences took place in a church in Greenock.

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Cassidy abused the second victim at several locations including a swimming pool, a beach and a caravan.

Cassidy was extradited from Australia to face the charges and was previously convicted at the High Court in Paisley.

At the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, Judge Sheena Fraser said the offences would nowadays be considered rape.

Describing a case involving the second victim, she said: “You even touched him when he was making his confession to you in primary school.”
Judge Fraser said: “At the time of the offending you were a Roman Catholic priest and you met your victims in that capacity – they were your parishioners.”
She said the first victim had begged him to stop the abuse, but he carried on – warning the boy “not to tell anyone”.

The judge said Cassidy had exhibited “grooming behaviour” in relation to the second victim, taking him on trips and gaining the trust of the boy’s family.

Judge Fraser said: “Your behaviour to each of these young boys was an egregious breach of trust.”
The abuse had a “devastating” impact on the victims, she said.

The first victim died in 2020, but had earlier spoken to police about his ordeal.

The judge sentenced Cassidy to nine years in prison, backdated to July 16 2024.

Cassidy’s representative, Tony Lenehan KC, had said his client did not accept the jury’s unanimous verdict of guilty.

He said Cassidy had not committed any offences in the last 50 years.

Mr Lenehan asked the judge to consider Cassidy’s advanced age, saying: “His allotted span is drawing to a close so each year is doubly precious.”
Following Cassidy’s conviction, Bishop John Keenan issued a statement expressing his “deep sorrow” and saying safeguarding arrangements in the Catholic Church had markedly improved since the time of his offending.

Cassidy was a former priest in the Diocese of Paisley.

Bishop Keenan said: “I want first to acknowledge the courage of those who came forward to report abuse and to participate in what has often been a long and painful process.

“Abuse causes profound and lasting harm, and I am deeply sorry for the suffering experienced by those affected and for the distress this news will bring to many within our parishes and the wider community.

“We recognise that this news may raise difficult emotions: shock, anger, sadness, confusion, or loss of trust.

Support is available for anyone affected, whether directly or indirectly.”