BERNARD TRAYNOR'S SHOCKING ABUSE IN NEWCASTLE: EX-PRIEST'S REVELATIONS AND SCANDAL
In January 2018, disturbing revelations emerged regarding Bernard Traynor, a former priest with a dark history of abusing young boys during his time in Newcastle.Traynor, now 64 years old, was convicted in 1995 on six counts of indecent assault related to his misconduct against four boys during the 1970s, when he was serving as a trainee priest involved with a children’s home in Newcastle.
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which examined the circumstances surrounding these abuses, revealed that the care arrangements for the children involved had been organized in Scotland.
Traynor publicly expressed remorse for his actions, describing his crimes as “abhorrent” and acknowledging the profound wrongfulness of his conduct.
He admitted that it was “totally wrong” that he had been permitted to serve as a house parent at the St Vincent’s home without adequate training or supervision, which allowed him access to vulnerable children.
When questioned about his past abuses, Traynor stated, “It’s abhorrent to me now that I could do that.
I don’t in any way feel proud for what I’ve done.” The inquiry further uncovered that Traynor had abused a ten-year-old boy after the child was transferred from Smyllum Park orphanage in Lanarkshire, where he had been under the care of nuns.
Traynor, who disclosed that he himself had been subjected to abuse by a family member and had been raped while at school, expressed deep shame over his actions.
He said, “I hate that aspect of myself and there’s nothing I can do, nothing I can say other than I’m totally, totally sorry.” The investigation also revealed that Traynor ceased to be a priest once his criminal activities came to light in 1995, although he was not officially defrocked until 2012.
During the inquiry, Colin MacAulay QC, the lead counsel, read out a statement from one of Traynor’s victims, who recounted his fear of speaking out because his abuser was a priest, highlighting the lasting trauma inflicted.
Additionally, the inquiry heard testimony from a nun known as Sister Esther, aged 73, who was accused of physically assaulting a young boy.
The nun denied “blacking out” an incident in which she allegedly beat a boy severely after discovering him in the arms of another nun in Smyllum’s boiler room.
The boy was reportedly knocked unconscious during the incident.
Sister Esther claimed she could not remember the event, stating, “I don’t think I have blacked it out.
I have wracked my brain to try to remember and at no point has any memory come back.
If it had, I would say it.” The inquiry also addressed inconsistencies regarding the treatment of children at Smyllum, with some evidence suggesting that uneaten food was reheated and served again, contrary to previous statements from other nuns.
The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, who managed Smyllum until its closure in 1981, issued a heartfelt apology last year to anyone who suffered abuse while in their care, acknowledging the pain inflicted during their administration of the orphanage.
