Fr Reginald Dunkling convicted of historic abuse

A Westminster priest has been convicted of historic abuse of a minor 'sometime between April 1992 and April 1993'.

The Diocese of Westminster said in a statement yesterday: 'Fr Reginald Dunkling, a priest of the Diocese of Westminster, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 1 December, following a conviction in relation to non-recent sexual abuse of a minor. The court imposed a 12 month community order, with additional requirements.

'Fr Reginald Dunkling withdrew from ministry in May 2020, and since that time has had no role in public ministry. Following his conviction, he does not and will not have any role in public ministry.

'The Diocese of Westminster has been cooperating with the police throughout their investigations.

'The Diocese of Westminster is deeply sorry for the hurt that he caused to his victim, the victim's family and the wider community, and acknowledges the gravity of the abuse he inflicted.

'The Diocese of Westminster is committed to the safeguarding of all children and vulnerable adults in its care. Over the past two decades, in conjunction with the Catholic Church in England and Wales, we have developed robust safeguarding policies and procedures, which have been put in place across parishes, chaplaincies, schools and agencies of the diocese to provide protection for children and vulnerable adults. We continue to strengthen our policies, procedures and practice.

If anyone has any concerns of a safeguarding nature involving the Diocese of Westminster, they are asked to contact the statutory authorities or the Diocesan Safeguarding Service. Contact details, further information on our safeguarding policies, and victim support are available in the safeguarding section of this website: https://rcdow.org.uk/safeguarding/ '

Fr Dunkling, 63, has always denied the accusation, saying that he was never alone with the young person who testified against him. But after six hours of deliberation following three days of evidence on 6 July, the remaining eleven jurors convicted him by a majority of 10-1.

Before the sentencing Fr Dunkling's lawyer Tanya Panagiotopoulou pointed out that there were: "complex medical issues as he is awaiting surgery for bowel cancer and amputation of his foot."