A FORMER priest has been found guilty of assaults which would “today be classified as rape".
Vile Vincent Cassidy was convicted by a jury following a trial at the High Court sitting in Paisley of historic “indecent assaults” on two young males.
The 84-year-old was extradited from Australia and brought back to face the allegations at Greenock Sheriff Court in October 2024.
The jury unanimously found him of “indecently assaulting” a 16-year-old male on various occasions between July 21, 1973 and December 31, 1974, at St Laurence's Church in Greenock.
Cassidy indecently assaulted the teenager, who is now deceased, by repeatedly touching and rubbing his thigh, touching his private parts over his clothing, pulling down his lower clothing and pushing him on the body.
The OAP offender touched the teenager's private parts, exposed his private parts, masturbated in the male’s presence and performed a sex act on him.
Cassidy, described as a prisoner at HMP Low Moss, was also unanimously found guilty of on “various occasions” between January 1, 1974 and July 31, 1971, at Eastwood Swimming Pool, Irvine Beach and St Fergus Primary School, and St Fergus' Church both in Paisley, using “lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour” towards a young man aged between eight and 12-years-old.
He repeatedly placed his hand inside his lower clothing, touched his private parts, uttered sexualised comments to him, seized his hand and placed it on his private parts.
Cassidy pulled down his and the child’s lower clothing, forced him to sit on his knee, exposed his private parts and touched him.
Twisted Cassidy showered in the male’s presence, compelled him to touch his private parts in the presence of other adult males and watched while the other males touched the private parts of the child and he was compelled to touch their private parts in Cassidy’s presence.
And on an occasion between January 1, 1974 and July 31, 1977, at a caravan in Lossiemouth, Cassidy was found guilty of “indecently assaulting” the same young boy after lying beside him, touching his body and performing a sex act upon him.
Judge Sheena Fraser stated: “You have been convicted by a jury of horrendous sexual crimes that today two would be classified as rape.”
Judge Fraser adjourned sentencing to call for a criminal justice social work report and a risk assessment until April 14.
Cassidy had his name referred to the Scottish ministers, was placed on the sex offenders register and remanded in custody in the meantime.