THE Catholic Church could face a new police investigation into claims
it helped convicted paedophile priest James Robinson evade justice.
The sex monster was jailed for 21 years on Friday for sexually
abusing six young boys between 1959 and 1983, while serving in the West
Midlands.
But Robinson, 73, was not captured until last year as he was allowed
to flee to the US in 1985 after the allegations first emerged.
While in America he continued as a priest in California – and
received £800 per month from the Archdiocese of Birmingham until the end
of 2001.
Last night, a victim of another paedophile Midland priest said he
plans to meet West Midlands detectives this week to demand the church
face a new investigation over its role in the scandal.
“Although I’m overjoyed that Robinson has finally been found guilty of his crimes, this is only the beginning,’’ he said.
“The real question is how was he able to evade capture for so long –
and why he was paid money by the Catholic Church until the end of 2001?
“The powers that be will inevitably try and sweep this under the carpet, but I’m determined to find out what really went on.
“The only way I can see that happening is by demanding a police
investigation into the exact events which led to him fleeing to America
in 1985 – and why he was supported by the church so long after that.”
The sex abuse victim was brought up in the Father Hudson’s Home for
orphans in Coleshill. It was there that he was raped by paedophile
priest Eric Taylor who was jailed in 1998.
Taylor, who attacked a string of boys, knew Robinson well as he had worked alongside him in the 1970s.
Robinson served at a number of parishes during his time in the West Midlands.
To the public and parishioners he seemed a devoted priest – but in private he was abusing young boys.
After completing his training Robinson was moved to the Holy Family Church in Small Heath, Birmingham.
Between 1974 and 1979 he was parish priest at the Holy Trinity
Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire before moving to St
Elizabeth’s Church, Coventry.
Robinson finally switched to Our Lady of Lourdes in Cradley Heath in
the Black Country – but in 1985 he was suddenly transferred to America.
At the time Most Reverend Maurice Couve de Murville was the Archbishop
of Birmingham.
In 1993 the English Roman Catholic Church is alleged to have told
its US counterparts about the abuse claims – and Robinson was stopped
from giving Holy Communion.
SIC: MS/UK