A PRIEST accused of child abuse has denied sexually molesting two boys, saying he just wanted to help them `to be happy'.Former Church of England rector John McCullough, 63, who later became a Roman Catholic priest, admitted one of the boys had regularly stayed at his vicarage in Bury.
Mr McCullough also admitted sharing a twin bed hotel room on a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
But at Bolton Crown Court McCullough, now of Leigh on Sea, Essex, strenuously denied that he had indecently assaulted the boy during his time as vicar at Christ the King with Holy Trinity Church in Spring Street, Bury.
He said that one of his alleged victims, who claims he was abused between the ages of 11 and 14, was `very keen, very helpful, with a good sense of humour'.
He said that his motive in trying to help young boys was `to see that they succeeded in being happy, as far as possible'.
Mr McCullough, who is suspended from the Roman Catholic priesthood, denies 11 charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency.
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