Catholic priest had huge gay S&M porn collection, court hears
A Catholic priest who is accused of molesting three boys had a large collection of gay porn, a court has heard.
Father Anthony McSweeney, 68, denies molesting three teenage boys between 1979 and 1981 at Grafton Close Children’s Home.
According to the BBC, the priest admitted to Southwark Crown Court that he bought gay porn in Amsterdam’s Red Light District alongside care home manager John Stingemore.
He kept the porn collection secret until he was discovered by his parish’s cleaner at St Peter’s in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
McSweeney said he was “ashamed” of his habit, and became emotional during his testimony.
The priest also admitted that Mr Stingemore – who died weeks before the trial – had shown him a clip of child porn, but says it did not raise “alarm bells”.
He said: He replied: “It didn’t occur to me, I can’t answer why. I suppose I was a bit surprised, a bit shocked and I just got rid of it.
“I just blanked it out, I guess. I didn’t give it any more thought. I’m desperately ashamed.”
Father McSweeney denies all charges.
The trial continues.
