THE 80-year-old abbot at the home of Buckfast Tonic Wine was jailed yesterday for 15 months for sexually abusing boys at a Catholic prep school.It is thought William Manahan is the most senior Roman Catholic to be convicted of sexual offences against children in Britain.
The ordained priest, known to pupils as Daddy Prior, pleaded guilty at Exeter Crown Court to eight charges of sexually assaulting pupils.
The victims, all aged between eight and 13 at the time, were abused at Buckfast Abbey Preparatory School in Devon between 1971 and 1978.
The school closed in 1994.
Manahan, who began teaching at the school two years after it was established in 1967, was said by one victim to prefer "prettier boys".
The court heard he encouraged boys with "angelic faces" to sit on his lap during Latin lessons and bought their silence with sweets.
Prosecutor Ian Fenney told the court Manahan touched the boys' private parts under cover of his desk in class, and also while watching television with them in school boarding houses.
He resigned from his job as abbot in charge of the abbey when he was arrested earlier this year.
The monastery was founded in the 19th century and is renowned as the home of the fortified wine, which has been blamed for causing social problems in parts of Scotland.
Yesterday, Judge John Neliga jailed Manahan for 15 months and banned him from working with children or unsupervised contact with children. He will still be allowed to attend mass.
The judge told him: "These boys were too young and innocent and, I dare say, bewildered to complain at the time, but it is equally clear you assaulted them in a shamefully indecent manner.
"This breach of trust was so serious that it must receive a custodial sentence. The message must go out that those in a position of trust in schools must expect to go to prison if they prey sexually on children in their care."
He said that Manahan had also damaged the reputation of the Roman Catholic Church.
Ian Fenny, prosecuting, said Manahan became a priest at the age of 18 and spent most of his adult life at the abbey, becoming a Latin and English teacher when it started a prep school.
He fondled the boys, who were boarders at the school, after calling them out in class to sit on his knee, or while they sat on his lap watching television at night. Many were especially vulnerable because their families were in the services and working overseas.
Mr Fenny said: "There is an allegation he had a particular penchant for prettier boys. One said he chose boys to go on to his lap for their angelic looks.
"Others recall he would ply them with sweets in a way they did not feel was innocent or paternalistic."
Martin Meeke, QC, defending, said Manahan had devoted his life to helping others and had "already done 60 years of community service".
He said he realised what he was doing was wrong and stopped abusing boys even though the school remained open until 1994.
He said: "He resigned as abbot, and nothing this court can impose can match the loss of his position or the disgrace which comes with it."
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