Brett Gibbons
A MIDLAND priest is said to be “under investigation by church authorities” over his role in the death of an Iraqi hotel receptionist at the hands of UK soldiers.
Fr Peter Madden was the Catholic padre attached to 1st Battalion the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment when Iraqi father-of-two Baha Mousa was kicked and beaten to death after being rounded up by UK soldiers in September 2003.
A year-long inquiry accused British soldiers of using torture and gratuitous violence on the 26-year-old while he was in custody.
Birmingham-based solicitor Phil Shiner, from Public Interest Lawyers, who represented Mr Mousa’s family, claimed Fr Madden’s involvement in the case was being probed by the “appropriate church authorities”.
Fr Madden was priest at St Mary’s RC Church, St Mary’s Road, Wednesbury, after leaving his Army duties. He moved to St Mary Immaculate Church in Warwick last summer.
His account of what happened to Mr Mousa and other Iraqi detainees was slammed by Sir William Gage, who presided over the inquiry into the Iraqi’s death.
“I found Madden to be a poor witness, particularly in relation to inconsistencies as to whether he felt any responsibility for the welfare of detainees,” he remarked.
Sir William found that the chaplain visited the detention centre on the day that Mr Mousa died and must have been aware of the abuse being inflicted on the detainees.
Fr Madden is currently away on holiday, according to Peter Jennings, press secretary for the Archbishop of Birmingham and Archdiocese.
Mr Jennings said: “The holiday was booked some time ago.
“He has come under very severe criticism and will no doubt want to spend time studying the report in context.”
Mr Jennings confirmed that Archbishop Bernard Longley will interview Madden when he has read the full report from the inquiry.
“The Catholic Church takes this matter very seriously,” he added.
Mr Jennings said he was not aware of any church investigation of Fr Madden.
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