Church knew of abuse claim against priest

LEADERS in the Church in Wales were made aware of a sexual misconduct allegation against a priest years before his abuse of a child came to light.

- BRANWEN JONES and ELLIE GOSLEY

Anthony Pierce

In March, former bishop Anthony Pierce was jailed after he admitted five charges of indecent assault against a boy under the age of 16 between 1985 and 1990.

However, the church has now confirmed a report was made against Pierce by a university student in the mid-1980s and reached a bishop within the organisation.

There is no record of Pierce being disciplined after this allegation was made. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Church in Wales said a safeguarding officer had concluded an internal investigation into the handling of the allegation.

They said that clergy who informed the bishop acted “in accordance with appropriate practice at the time’, but a similar allegation would be dealt with differently now.

Pierce held the post of Bishop of Swansea and Brecon between 1999 and 2008.