Priest: ‘I will go to jail to expose child abuse’
Daily Mail, Monday, July 09, 2007
By Jason O?Toole
AN IRISH missionary
priest who is facing a libel case after making accusations against a
suspected child abuser has vowed to go to prison if found guilty of
slander.
Fr. Shay Cullen helped to smuggle a camera crew into a Philippines jail
last year to expose how young children were being forced to share
confined cells with adult prisoners some of whom were convicted child
abusers.
But one inmate who was filmed saying how he will ?look after? the young
children in prison is now alleging that the crusading priest libeled him
in the now-produced documentary, which was aired on CNN.
The Dublin-born cleric, who has spent more than 35 years in the
Philippines bringing hundreds of child abuse cases to light, now says
that he would rather go to prison than pay out any compensation or fine
In the court case, which is due to start next month.
?If the case goes to court, I will not pay bail for my freedom. I will
willingly go to jail in a symbolic gesture on behalf of the thousands of
children who are unjustly imprisoned and who suffer unbearable danger
from adult prisoners,? said the priest, who has been nominated three
times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Fr Cullen also hopes that the television production companies will back
him up: ?I expect to see CNN and ITV assist us in our legal battle for
truth and justice,? he said.
Alter the documentary was aired new legislation was immediately
introduced to ensure that children were no longer held in adult cells.
But Fr Cullen, who maintains that some children are still found by his
team of social workers in adult prisons, claims that certain local city
officials are behind the court case ?because they want to get me?.
?The government?s jail bureau were shamed by the expos?of horrific
conditions under which the children are incarcerated with adult
prisoners, some of whom are even paedophiles,? Fr Cullen pointed out.
?They may be behind this because although the complaint was made by a
former prisoner, he would have no financial means to file such a case or
to even see the broadcast as he was in prison at the time.? -End-
