Abuse lawyer voices concerns over report that allegation against former bishop was reported to police 17 years later than church had indicated 

Dino has been instructed by victims of former Welsh vicar Stephen Brooks, who was jailed in 1994 after admitting raping young boys in during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The BBC has reported that an allegation made against Anthony Pierce, a priest who later became a bishop, were reported to senior church figures nearly two decades before the police were informed.

The BBC also reported that in the intervening 17 years since the allegation was made in 1993, Pierce had been elected and served as bishop of Swansea and Brecon for nine years from 1999.

The alleged victim of Mr Pierce had died by the time the church contacted the police in 2010, with the allegation against Mr Pierce only coming to light after he admitted to five historical counts of indecent assault on a male child under the age of 16 earlier this month.

The BBC reports that the Church in Wales had begun an investigation into the allegation of Mr Pierce's "improper (and possible criminal) conduct".

This follows reports of abuse within a number of religious institutions, including the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

Leigh Day Partner Dino Nocivelli said:

“The shocking reports that allegations of abuse were suppressed for nearly two decades are incredibly concerning. Victims of abuse should not have to suffer in silence when they confide in senior church figures.”

“Victims deserve justice, and it is incumbent on those who know about allegations of abuse against someone in a position of power to report them to the police.

“That didn’t happen in this case and tragically the victim of Mr Pierce died before they could see him brought to justice.”