Priests suspected of abuse released

ELEVEN of the 12 priests arrested in Granada for allegedly abusing altar-boys will not face trial.

The 11 priests, who were arrested after the victim wrote to the Pope telling his story, faced jail sentences of up to three years but will walk free as too much time has passed.

Investigations only remain in process for father Roman, considered to be the head of the Romanones clan, while the judge declared the crimes fell outside the statute of limitations for the other 11.

As more than six years passed between the first victim reaching the age of 18 and reporting the alleged abuse, judge Antonio Moreno decided that it was too late to put the men on trial.

Judge Moreno justified his decision to try father Roman by stating that his suspected full sexual abuse of minors continued over a prolonged period of time, from 2004 to 2007 and explained that the nature of the abuse he is accused of allows a 10 year time period for trial.