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| Choirmaster's convictions quashed | Choirmaster's convictions quashed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The former director of a leading boys' school choir found guilty of child pornography offences has had his convictions quashed on appeal. | The former director of a leading boys' school choir found guilty of child pornography offences has had his convictions quashed on appeal. |
| Keith Knowles was in charge of the Catholic Saint Francis Xavier College Boys' Choir in Liverpool, which twice sang for Pope John Paul II. | |
| Convictions for 14 pornography-related offences in November 2006 were quashed on appeal at Liverpool Crown Court. | Convictions for 14 pornography-related offences in November 2006 were quashed on appeal at Liverpool Crown Court. |
| Mr Knowles paid tribute to "wonderful" friends and said justice had been done. | Mr Knowles paid tribute to "wonderful" friends and said justice had been done. |
| Mr Knowles, of Aigburth, was suspended from his post following his arrest in December 2005. | Mr Knowles, of Aigburth, was suspended from his post following his arrest in December 2005. |
| I've been very fortunate to have so many wonderful friends Keith Knowles | I've been very fortunate to have so many wonderful friends Keith Knowles |
| Speaking after his successful appeal, he said: "After 19 horrific months for me and my family, in which I was portrayed almost as a paedophile, at last, justice has been done." | Speaking after his successful appeal, he said: "After 19 horrific months for me and my family, in which I was portrayed almost as a paedophile, at last, justice has been done." |
| Keith Knowles was feted for his role as choirmaster when the boys sang the England's football anthem All Together Now at Euro 2004 and later sang for the Pope. | Keith Knowles was feted for his role as choirmaster when the boys sang the England's football anthem All Together Now at Euro 2004 and later sang for the Pope. |
| Mr Knowles said: "Five hundred and sixty-nine days it was in total and on every single one of those days you think about it all the time. | Mr Knowles said: "Five hundred and sixty-nine days it was in total and on every single one of those days you think about it all the time. |
| "I've been very fortunate to have so many wonderful friends who've supported me." | "I've been very fortunate to have so many wonderful friends who've supported me." |
| The College said it did not expect him him to reapply for his old job and at present had no plans to set up a meeting. | The College said it did not expect him him to reapply for his old job and at present had no plans to set up a meeting. |