Irish priest accused of child sex abuse in US

The allegations relate to 81-year-old Father Cornelius Kelleher’s time as a Catholic pastor in Minnesota between 1975 and 1986.

Updated 10.50pm

A RETIRED IRISH priest has been removed from his public position in Minnesota in the US after being “credibly accused of the sexual abuse of a minor female.”

The allegations relate to Father Cornelius Kelleher’s time as pastor of St. Joseph’s Church in Chisholm from 1975 to 1986. The Diocese of Duluth said in a statement that ”when the accusation was made, Father Kelleher was immediately removed from any public ministry and is no longer able to function as a priest in his retirement.”

The Diocese adds that, at present, no formal criminal charges or litigation in connection with this accusation.

81-year-old Kelleher worked across a number of parishes in the diocese as a priest between 1956 and 2012 before retiring in July of last year.

First published 9.27am

Read: Documentary about child abuse in Catholic church wins three Emmy awards >

Read: First US church official convicted of a crime in relation to handling abuse >

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