The Associated Press, June 24, 1999

Jesuit Priests Accused of Indecent Assault on Pupils

BLACKBURN, England (AP) -- Three Jesuit priests were charged Thursday with indecent assault on former pupils at a leading Roman Catholic school, police reported.

The charges brought to eight the number of former staff at Stonyhurst College and its elementary school, St. Mary's Hall, accused of assaults on boys during the 1970s and '80s. The schools are in the north England county of Lancashire.

Police said the Rev. Joseph Dooley, 79, the Rev. Clifford Taunton, 82, and the Rev. George Earle, 73, will appear in court in Blackburn, north England, on Friday. They were all connected to the schools at the time of the alleged offenses.

Five other men, including an 87-year-old priest, have already been charged with indecency offenses at the schools.


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