JOSEPH CULLEN, WORLD-RENOWNED CONDUCTOR IN GLASGOW, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
A globally acclaimed conductor who previously abused a boy who considered him a 'surrogate father' has been incarcerated once again.Joseph Cullen, 58, served as the choirmaster and organist at St Andrews Cathedral in Glasgow from 1976 to 1985, and also held the position of choirmaster at St Aloysius Church in Garnethill.
The father of three, who has worked with Westminster Cathedral and the London Symphony Chorus—winning two Grammy awards—admitted to abusing a nine-year-old boy who joined the choir at St Andrews Cathedral.
Cullen referred to the child as his 'special friend' and told him to keep their relationship secret.
Hailing from Leeds, Yorkshire, Cullen pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to charges of engaging in lewd and libidinous conduct towards the young boy between January 1981 and December 1984.
Yesterday, Sheriff Martin Jones QC sentenced Cullen to 10 months in prison, stating: "The offence to which you have pled guilty involves the sexual abuse of a young boy between nine and twelve at the time, when he was particularly vulnerable.
You were in a position of trust.
You took advantage of that position and you sexually abused him over three years." The sheriff emphasized that the severity of Cullen's crimes remains unchanged despite the passage of time, adding, "The crime which you committed all those years ago remains serious, that’s not diluted by the passage of time." Previously, in July 2015, Cullen had been sentenced to 12 months at the High Court in Glasgow for two other charges of lewd and libidinous conduct involving two different boys at the same cathedrals.
The court was told that the child, who joined the choir at age nine, was passionate about singing and faced family issues during this period—a time described as 'memorable' in his life.
Procurator fiscal depute Niall Macdonald stated: “Cullen became more involved in the complainer’s life, taking him out on trips, driving him home from choir practice, and spending time with him.
He describes Cullen at this time as a 'surrogate father' despite Cullen being in his twenties.” The court heard that Cullen first assaulted the boy in the organ room at the cathedral during choir practice.
On noticing others approaching, Cullen briefly left but then returned and remarked, “that was close.” Multiple other instances of abuse in the organ room were reported.
On one occasion, Cullen drove the boy home and, when alone, asked to see his bedroom—where he assaulted him again.
Cullen then took the boy to a relative’s house but instructed him not to tell anyone because it was wrong, calling it their 'special secret.' In June 2015, the victim's mother saw online information about Cullen’s earlier conviction for historical offenses against children and advised her son to report his experiences.
Defence lawyer Thomas Ross QC described Cullen’s career as a successful freelance musician.
