A Catholic priest from Co Antrim has been arrested by detectives investigating the alleged sexual abuse of a boy in the 1970s, police revealed today.
The curate has already been asked to stand down from his diocese while the inquiry into the indecent assault claims is carried out.
The alleged crime was committed against a boy under the age of 16 in the Lancashire area.
The priest (65), who used to work in England, was arrested in London yesterday by officers from the Metropolitan Police Force’s Child Abuse Investigation Team.
He was questioned and bailed to return to a west London police station in February.
The Met is taking the lead on the inquiry as the alleged victim, who is aged in his 40s, now lives in London
Last week, the Bishop of Down and Connor Dr Noel Treanor told the priest’s parishioners he was stepping down.
“The safeguarding and welfare of children is the paramount concern for the diocese,” Dr Treanor said, adding that the priest was entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.