Canon Mortimer Stanley could be extradited from Ireland to face sex charges involving Rochdale schoolgirls

Retired priest, Canon Mortimer Stanley, who retired from St Vincent de Paul church, Norden in 2002, may be extradited from Ireland to face a string of sex charges involving Rochdale schoolgirls.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to charge Canon Stanley after a number of complaints by former pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School were made.

Canon Stanley, who is now living in Ireland, was first questioned by police last year and is now due to face 17 charges of indecent assault on girls under the age of 14.

It is understood that the allegations involved 10 victims and are said to have taken place between 1977 and 2002 when the victims were pupils at St Vincent’s Primary School – which has been historically linked to the parish.

Canon Stanley has previously travelled back to Greater Manchester to answer police questions but it is now understood that the police are considering extradition proceedings in order to press charges.

He was originally interviewed in November 2013 when three women claimed they were indecently assaulted and sexually abused when they were pupils at St Vincent de Paul.

He then returned in May this year for an interview under caution about the historic allegations.

Canon Stanley joined the church as a parish priest in 1972 and retired to his native Ireland in 2002. He was in charge when the church opened in 1975 at St Vincent.

The CPS confirmed that they had given authorisation to Greater Manchester Police to charge Canon Stanley.