Paedophile priest’s kin ‘had no idea’

Family and colleagues of a former Catholic priest and theologian who has been exposed as a self-confessed paedophile say they are “absolutely shocked” by the revelation.

The Herald revealed yesterday that Father Michael (Paul) Shirres, who had lectured in Ma¯ori theology at the University of Auckland and wrote several books on Ma¯ ori spirituality, confessed to sexually abusing a young girl and is suspected of abusing many other victims.

The Catholic Church has confirmed it received five complaints against Shirres and placed him in a programme for sex offenders. Another victim says a therapist told her Shirres admitted to abusing dozens of children.

Shirres was a revered figure within Ma¯ori communities in the Far North, where he had visited regularly as a guest speaker since 1973. The priest died of motor neuron disease in October 1997, aged 68.

A nephew of Shirres, and one of his closest living relatives, said the news had been an absolute shock to the family.

“We had no idea,” he said. The nephew, who wished to remain anonymous, said the first the family heard of the accusations was in the media.

“I am absolutely shocked and feel betrayed. My mother doted on him. He was just another uncle,” he said.

A University of Auckland spokeswoman said staff who had known Shirres were also shocked to learn of his past.

“To the best of our knowledge there is no record of knowledge of this at the university or complaints made to the university,” she said.

Among Shirres’ victims was Annie Hill, 56, a former art teacher at Pompallier College in Whangarei. She received a written apology from the priest, who began sexually abusing her when she was 5.