Former Buxton priest jailed for 15 years

A former priest has been jailed for 15 years for committing sex offences on children as young as six, including two girls in Buxton.
Francis Paul CullenFrancis Paul Cullen
Francis Paul Cullen

Francis Paul Cullen, who served at St Anne’s Catholic Church, on Terrace Road, between 1978 and 1987, pleaded guilty to the 21 charges, which involve five boys and two girls in Mackworth, Buxton and Nottingham at Derby Crown Court last month.

The 85-year-old, who has been on the run for more than 20 years since he skipped bail in 1991, was extradited from Tenerife last year.

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The first Buxton victim was aged between six and 12 when she was abused. She is now 39.

The second was 13 and she is now 43.

They both came forward in August, when they heard he had been extradited to the UK.

The charges include 15 counts of indecent assault between January 1, 1957 and March 24, 1991 on children aged between six and 14, and five counts of indecency with three boys aged between eight and 13 between July 2, 1960 and March 24, 1991.

Cullen also admitted one charge of attempted buggery on a 14-year-old boy between August 6, 1969 and August 5, 1970.

See this Thursday’s Buxton Advertiser for the full story.