Minister suspended at probe start

Reverend Stephen Crowther said he was ashamed he was gay

The Bishop of Clogher says a minister convicted of having indecent child images was removed from pastoral duties as soon as an investigation began.

The Right Reverend Michael Jackson reiterated this after Reverend Stephen Crowther was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.

The clergyman was also fined £2,500 at Enniskillen Magistrates Court.

A postal package with a video of naked boys was intercepted by Customs officers en route to his home in 2005.

Police raided the rectory at Castle Balfour Road and found other such videos and images.

They also found pictures downloaded from the internet on his computer.

Rev Crowther ceased all pastoral duties as soon as the PSNI investigation was made known to the diocese Right Reverend Michael Jackson

While none were of an explicit sexual nature, all contained images of naked young boys and teenagers.

When police asked Crowther if he was ashamed of the videos he said that he was "ashamed that he was a homosexual" and he "believed that homosexuality was very wrong".

Resident Magistrate Paul Copeland referred to the anonymous victims shown in the images, but said Crowther had also been the "victim of poor judgement, self indulgence and his own foolishness".

He said that given his profession it was "a personal catastrophe".

The Right Reverend Michael Jackson said the church and community were deeply distressed by the case.

"Rev Crowther ceased all pastoral duties as soon as the PSNI investigation was made known to the diocese," the bishop said.

"The safety and well-being of members of the parish remains of paramount importance to the diocese."