Former Catholic priest Alexander Bede Walsh convicted of historic child sexual abuse

Earlier this month (January 2026), a jury at Stoke‑on‑Trent Crown Court found Walsh, 72, of HMP Wakefield, guilty of indecent assault against a boy at a church in Cheadle, Staffordshire, during the 1980s.  

Walsh is already serving a 22‑year prison sentence following his 2012 convictions for two sexual offences and 19 counts of indecent assault. The newly proven offence relates to another child who was abused while Walsh was serving as a Catholic priest in the community.  

Leigh Day abuse claims partner Andrew Lord represents survivors of abuse against senior church figures, including a number of complainants who were involved in proceedings against former Catholic priest Dennis Finbow.   

Andrew Lord said: 

“This conviction demonstrates once again the huge scale of sexual abuse by Alexander Bede Walsh, and how survivors can still come forwards and be heard many years after initial investigations. 

“It is down to the courage of all of the survivors involved that Walsh has been held accountable for his heinous acts. Many survivors carry the weight of abuse for years and may be entitled to seek compensation as part of their pursuit of justice and closure. I would encourage anyone impacted to consider taking legal advice on their options.”