THE Catholic Church has apologised to the victims of pervert Irvine priest Father Francis Paul Moore in a letter sent out by a top clergyman.

Bishop William Nolan sent out a personally penned letter to every church in the Diosece of Galloway apologising for the “true scandal” that has engulfed the church in the three years since he became Bishop.

In the letter Bishop Nolan admitted that two priests had been jailed during his leadership - referring to Father Moore and Father Graeme Bell jailed in June last year for stealing church funds to feed his gambling habit.

Bishop Nolan said it was likely that disgraced Father Moore would now be stripped of his priesthood after being jailed for nine years last week at Glasgow’s high court for a string of sex attacks on children and a trainee priest.

The sick clergyman, 82, was caged after being told by judge Rita Rae that he had abused his position, after attacking children as young as five-years-old.

Following his sentencing Bishop Nolan sent his pastoral letter to churches in time for Sunday services, apologising to Father Moore’s victims and his own parishioners.

He said: “I would like to offer my personal apology to the victims. I am deeply saddened and pained by the abuse they have suffered, particularly since the one guilty of abuse is a priest of Galloway Diosece.

“When the first allegations were made over 20 years ago, they were reported to police but it has taken until now for the case to come to court. This has added to the agony of the victims. I do hope that despite the trauma of having to go to court, they take some comfort from the verdict.

“The people of the Diosece too have suffered, and are suffering now, along with the Church throughout Scotland, as the negative publicity, which is a fallout from the trial which is not only embarrassing to Catholics but also calls into question the trust they have in their priests.

“Sexual abuse by the clergy is a true “scandal”. It is an obstacle to belief and undermines the work of the church .... The good efforts of many are undermined by the scandalous behaviour of some.”

But one of Father Moore’s victims who was assaulted by him on Irvine beach, has said the Catholic Church’s words are not good enough and has demanded a face to face apology from Bishop Nolan. Speaking to the BBC, Paul Smyth - who made sex abuse claims against the priest as far back as 2013 - said: “Come and speak to me. But please do not email me or text me or phone me to say sorry. Because anybody can go behind a computer and write the word ‘sorry’ and it may mean nothing.”

Father Moore’s position will now be considered in Rome, according to the Bishop it is likely he will be kicked out of the Catholic Church.

He added: “Regarding Father Moore, he too needs our prayers.

“His case must be referred to Rome; a process whose likely outcome is that he will be dismissed from the priesthood.”