Award priest facing probe.Byline: KEITH ANDERSON For the reggae artist also known as Keith Anderson, see . Keith Anderson (born on January 12, 1968, in Miami, Oklahoma) is an American country singer. Early life A PRIEST who was awarded an OBE for his cross-community work in the North has been asked to leave his post pending an investigation into child abuse claims from the 1970s. Police launched an investigation into the conduct of Fr Paul Symonds when he was working in England, Church authorities said. And they have refused to reveal where he was working at the time of the allegations. Fr Symonds collected his OBE last year for his lead role in helping remove loyalist graffiti from Harryville in Ballymena, Co Antrim. And in 2006 the priest led the mass for murdered teen Michael McIlveen. "Micky-bo" died after a sectarian attack in the town. Fr Symonds is now a curate CURATE, eccl. law. One who represents the incumbent of a church, person, or20 vicar, and takes care of the church, and performs divine service in his stead. in Ballymena and Dr Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor, addressed parishioners yesterday. He said: "The safeguarding and welfare of children is the paramount concern for the diocese. "Both the diocese and Fr Symonds are co-operating fully with the investigation and the diocese is liaising with the statutory child safeguarding authorities. "As part of the diocesan safeguarding procedures, Fr Symonds was asked to cease from all public ministry pending the outcome of the investigation. "He agreed to this." Bishop Treanor added the priest was entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. After collecting his OBE, Fr Symonds said: "My whole life has been dedicated to building relationships, and 20 years ago I felt a vocation to come to Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. and do what I could to improve community relations 1. The relationship between military and civilian communities. 2. Those public affairs programs that address issues of interest to the general public, business, academia, veterans, Service organizations, military-related associations, and other non-news media entities. ." CAPTION(S): OBE Fr Paul Symonds |
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