Priest in court on abuse charges

A Catholic priest has appeared in court accused of a series of child abuse charges against schoolboys.

John McCollough, 61, from Essex, was charged with eight indecent assault charges and four counts of gross indecency against children.

The charges relate to alleged incidents while he was an Anglican rector at Holy Trinity Church in Bury, Greater Manchester, in the 1980s and 1990s.

Mr McCollough was bailed but excused from the next hearing on 16 February.

Administrative leave

The priest, of Lymington Avenue, Leigh-on-Sea, spoke only to confirm his name and personal details during the 10-minute hearing.

The alleged offences spanned a six-year period while he was rector at the church in Bury, where he worked between 1985 and 1995.

He left in 1997 to become a Catholic priest and is currently a based at St Vincent's Church in Dagenham.

Mr McCollough was put on administrative leave following the police investigation.