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St. Joseph’s Church in Chisholm. Google maps
Child Abuse
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
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