Clergyman removed from private school
BY KEITH McLEOD k.mcleod@dailyrecord.co.uk
A JESUIT priest has been removed from a prestigious fee-paying Catholic school and reported to police amid a “disclosure” of historical abuse against children.
The man was taken out of £13,455-a-year St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow after it received a report from the Jesuit safeguarding officer in London.
The Jesuit was removed from “ministry” on February 22 and the school informed four days later.
St Aloysius’ College then contacted Police Scotland and passed on the information it had received.
Last year, the school was rocked by historical allegations of sexual abuse against children.
In an email to parents, headmaster Matthew Bartlett said the individual “came into the school in their capacity as a Jesuit, which required minimal interaction with children whilst carrying out his duties.
“However, all appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place, as always is the case with anyone coming into the school. We have been informed by the
Jesuits that the reason for his removal from ministry is not related to his time at St Aloysius’ College, but a period of time over 35 years ago.”
Father Damian Howard, provincial superior of the British Jesuits, said: “I can confirm that a disclosure about historical abuse – not relating to St Aloysius’ College – has been made and that the individual concerned was immediately removed from all ministry.”
St Aloysius’ College is in the Garnethill area of Glasgow and is Scotland’s only Jesuit private school. The college said: “We immediately contacted Police Scotland and provided them with the information disclosed to us.”