Paedophile Priest Jailed : 'Predatory'- Alexander Bede Walsh made some of his victims dress up in nappies

'Predatory': Alexander Bede Walsh made some of his victims dress up in nappies

A predatory paedophile priest was today jailed for 22 years for a campaign of abuse against young boys which spanned nearly two decades.

Alexander Bede Walsh used his ‘revered’ status to prey on his victims, abusing children aged eight to 16 in Coventry, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, his trial heard.
Walsh, 58, made some of his victims dress up in disposable nappies while he took photographs, the jury were told.

 One of his victims tried to hang himself after an assault.

The abuse, described to the court as ‘serial and predatory’, took place between 1975 and 1993.

Jailing Walsh after a 10-day trial, Judge Paul Glenn told him: ‘Shameless accurately describes your attitude to these proceedings, you have shown no remorse at any time.
‘In fact, the jury was satisfied you lied repeatedly to them.’

He added: ‘You used God’s name as a lever... manipulating God’s teaching for your own devices.

‘The victims were all young, they were all vulnerable.

 

‘Some had to suffer the additional degradation of being made to wear nappies and be photographed.’

 

Detailing the impact of the horrific abuse on one victim, Judge Glenn added: ‘Such was his religious conviction, he believed he was being touched by the hand of God... that he was on the path to God.

‘The fact that the victims came forward as late as they did is indicative of their continuing inner turmoil.’

Walsh, of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, worked in parishes in Coventry, Banbury and north Staffordshire after being ordained in 1979.

He also served at a Roman Catholic boarding school in Staffordshire and at a now closed children’s home in Coleshill, Warwickshire.

Abuse: Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard harrowing details of Walsh's years of abuse against boys aged eight to 16 years old

He was arrested and interviewed in 2006 after two men contacted police to claim they had been abused in Coventry as children.

Further complainants came forward between 2008 and last year and all eight victims gave evidence at the trial.

Walsh was convicted of two serious sexual offences and 19 counts of indecent assault against boys aged between eight and 16.

Detective Constable Tim Bailey, from Staffordshire Police, led the investigation into Walsh’s crimes.

He said: ‘I am very pleased with the result. The judge is right, he is shameless.

‘He has shown no remorse, throughout the whole investigation and the trial. The victims are serving a life sentence in this case, so now Walsh can serve his sentence.

‘It was difficult for them to come forward, they are all grown men. If Walsh had any integrity or decency he would not have put them through it.

‘To drag them to court to relive those experiences in front of people they don’t know, it is disgraceful, terrible.

‘He is a disgrace to humanity.’

'Horrendous crimes': Rev Bernard Longley expressed his 'deep sense of shame at what has taken place'

The Most Rev Bernard Longley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, said he had been ‘shocked and appalled’ by the abuse.

In a statement issued after Walsh’s conviction at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, the Archbishop said: ‘These are horrendous crimes, and I first want to express my deep sense of shame at what has taken place.

‘It is the most serious betrayal of trust. I also want to express my profound sorrow and deep regret to each of the victims, then children, now adults, for the abuse perpetrated by Father Bede Walsh, whom they and their families trusted as a priest.’

He was convicted in January 2005 for photographs of young boys found on his computer - some of which depicted boys in nappies and swimming trunks.

As Walsh was led out of the dock a man in the public gallery applauded and shouted, ‘Good riddance.’

Walsh showed no emotion.


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