Investigation into how abusive priest was moved from Brentwood to East Anglia

The Diocese of East Anglia is to commission an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the transfer between dioceses of a priest who has been jailed for three years for abusing a boy at a children’s home, writes Joanna Moorhead.

Fr Anthony McSweeney’s crimes occurred between 1979 and 1981, although he was not arrested until two years ago, when he was parish priest of St George’s Church in Norwich. 

During the 68-year-old cleric’s trial, Southwark Crown Court was told that he watched as care home manager John Stinge­more carried out acts of abuse against a 15-year-old boy. Stingemore, who died before the trial, was eventually dismissed after the authorities learned he had taken indecent photographs of children in his care, and at this point McSweeney – by now an ordained priest working in the Diocese of Brentwood – dropped all contact with him.

In 1998, when McSweeney was parish priest of St Peter’s in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, his housekeeper found sexually explicit videos involving children. She reported this to the police, but because she wished to remain anonymous they did not follow up the complaint.  Due to the lack of police investigation, the Diocese of East Anglia said the matter was dealt with as one of clergy discipline.

McSweeney was removed from the Essex parish but was later transferred to the Diocese of East Anglia and was based at the parish of St George’s in Norwich. The bishop at the time was the current Archbishop of Southwark, Peter Smith.

McSweeney was arrested after a victim came forward with allegations of abuse at the Grafton Close children’s home in Hanworth, west London.

Michael Thurley, safeguarding coordinator for the Diocese of East Anglia, said he had met the police officers who investigated McSweeney several times and all agreed with an “independent review” into the matter.