தமிழர்களே விழித்துகொள்ளுங்கள்
PERVERT priest Bede Walsh is today starting a 22-year prison sentence after sexually abusing eight boys.
Judge Paul Glenn labelled Walsh "shameless" as he sentenced the defendant for 21 child sex offences spanning 18 years.
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Since last month's convictions, four more men have come forward to claim that they were also abused by Walsh.
Now Staffordshire Police are reviewing the claims and the length of Walsh's sentence before deciding what to do about the new allegations.
Sentencing Walsh at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Glenn told him: "Shameless accurately describes your attitude to these proceedings. The jury is satisfied you lied repeatedly to them."
Walsh, below, was found guilty of 19 counts of indecent assault and two counts of a serious sexual offence on children aged eight to 16.
Victims were abused in their homes, in swimming pools and while staying with Walsh in Cheadle and at Cotton College, near Alton.
Judge Glenn added: "You used the name of God as a lever, manipulating God's teaching for your own devices."
Mark Watson, mitigating, said Walsh never forced himself on, intimidated or threatened his victims. Referring to the "good many" references handed to the court, he described Walsh as a "generous" and "thoughtful" man.
Mr Watson said: "As horrible as these offences are, there is clearly a very, very different and very, very good side to this defendant. This is a man who put an awful lot into the community and a man whose work in the community should not go unnoticed."
Following yesterday's sentence, Detective Constable Tim Bailey said: "Walsh showed no remorse for these horrific offences. His victims are serving life sentences for what he did to them, but justice has now been done. I believe there are more victims out there."
Michael Clifford, who was one of Walsh's victims, has waived his anonymity to talk about his abuse at a children's home.
The 44-year-old, from Birmingham, said: "I'm relieved I can move on with my life. I'm glad he has been convicted and got a good sentence."
The process has already started to defrock Walsh. Archdiocese of Birmingham spokesman Peter Jennings said: "Bede Walsh will never be able to practise as a Catholic priest again."
Walsh, of Abbots Bromley, worked as a priest at St Giles's Church, in Cheadle, for 12 years from 1987 and was governor and chaplain at Painsley High in the town. He also worked at Cotton College.
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