Ex-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.

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.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Paisley, where Cassidy was formerly a priest, said: “The offences committed by Vincent Cassidy in the early 1970s, before he moved to Australia and left the priesthood in the late 1970s, were a most horrific abuse of trust.

“The Diocese of Paisley was made aware of the allegations against him around 40 years later in 2018, at which time the matter was referred to the police for investigation.

“His arrest, trial, conviction and sentencing are the culmination of that investigation.

“It is a matter of great sadness that anyone should abuse their position of trust to carry out abuse.

“The Diocese of Paisley will continue to provide the necessary support to those affected, while hoping that the sentence passed, will reassure those who were harmed, that justice has been delivered.”