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| Fife priest Thomas Mullen dismissed over child abuse claims | Fife priest Thomas Mullen dismissed over child abuse claims |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A catholic priest at the centre of child abuse allegations has been dismissed. | A catholic priest at the centre of child abuse allegations has been dismissed. |
| The Catholic Church said Thomas Mullen, who was the priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunfermline, Fife, had been found guilty of "canonical offences". | The Catholic Church said Thomas Mullen, who was the priest at Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunfermline, Fife, had been found guilty of "canonical offences". |
| BBC Scotland has spoken to a man, now in his 30s, who claims he was abused by the priest from the age of nine. | BBC Scotland has spoken to a man, now in his 30s, who claims he was abused by the priest from the age of nine. |
| Archbishop Leo Cushley said the gravity of the abuse of minors was something which could not go unheeded. | Archbishop Leo Cushley said the gravity of the abuse of minors was something which could not go unheeded. |
| In a letter Archbishop Cushley, of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said the diocese was obliged in canon law to continue to look after Thomas Mullen's practical and pastoral needs. | In a letter Archbishop Cushley, of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said the diocese was obliged in canon law to continue to look after Thomas Mullen's practical and pastoral needs. |
| Moorov doctrine | |
| The priest was arrested three years ago following statements from two victims. | |
| Prosecutors attempted to use the Moorov doctrine, a legal mechanism which applies where two or more separate offences are closely connected in time and circumstances, to establish a case. | |
| However, the Crown Office decided they could not proceed using Moorov due to the time lag between the alleged crimes. | |
| The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh suspended Father Mullen in 2011 while the allegations were investigated by police before ordering a full review into the claims, which were then sent to the Vatican. | |
| Two months ago the Vatican ruled to dismiss Father Mullen. It made the findings public on Sunday when the appeal period had expired. |