Irish priest arrested in Tenerife over claims he abused boys in Britain over a 36-year period
- Francis Paul Cullen was arrested in the town of Arona
- He is wanted for alleged indecent assaults in southern Derbyshire
- Altar boys aged 7, 8 and 12 when first allegedly abused
- It is claimed abuse took place between 1955 and 1991
Held: Irish Roman Catholic priest Francis Paul Cullen, 85, has been arrested in Tenerife for allegedly sexually abusing three altar boys in Britain over a 36-year period
An 85-year-old Irish Roman Catholic priest suspected of sexually abusing three altar boys in Britain over a 36-year period has been arrested in Tenerife.
Francis Paul Cullen, originally from Dublin but with British nationality, was arrested in the town of Arona on the popular Canary Island.
He was detained on a European arrest warrant issued by Britain and will be taken to the National Court in Madrid.
As reported by thinkspain.com, is wanted in the UK for indecent assaults in a parish in southern Derbyshire between 1955 and 1991.
It is claimed the abuses took place in religious centres and churches.
The first alleged incident of abuse took place 58 years ago when Cullen was 27. It is alleged a seven-year-old was abused on 10 or 12 occasions until the age of 14.
According to thinkspain.com, the priest allegedly told police this was 'teaching sexual practices' for later life.
It is alleged that the second victim was an eight-year-old altar boy who was abused until the age of 16.
The third alleged victim was a 12 year old altar boy who was looked after by the priest for two weeks in 1991.
Mr Cullen is alleged to have abused him repeatedly at home and in changing rooms in a church.
Police said the altar boys were aged 7, 8 and 12 when they were first abused.
Arrested: Cullen was detained in Arona, pictured, on a European arrest warrant and will be taken to the National Court in Madrid
Most watched News videos
- Moment fire breaks out 'on Russian warship in Crimea'
- Lords vote against Government's Rwanda Bill
- Shocking moment balaclava clad thief snatches phone in London
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Shocking moment man hurls racist abuse at group of women in Romford
- Mother attempts to pay with savings account card which got declined
- Shocking moment passengers throw punches in Turkey airplane brawl
- Shocking footage shows men brawling with machetes on London road
- Trump lawyer Alina Habba goes off over $175m fraud bond
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Brazen thief raids Greggs and walks out of store with sandwiches
- China hit by floods after violent storms battered the country