Kilwinning: Priest who played strip poker with child in Italy avoids jail

Stephen Motroni, 64, was told to complete 120 of hours of community service and places under supervision as a registered sex offender for three years after being found guilty of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour when the priest returned to court [Wednesday April 20].

Motroni, formerly of Smithstone House, Kilwinning, and currently of St John's, Stockport, was found guilty of an amended charge – after an appeal from prosecutors when the case was previously thrown out at trial over the offences having taken place in Italy.

Defence solicitor Gerard Brown said: "Your lordship in this case found the accused not guilty in respect to charge two and found guilty in respect to charge one.

"He is 64 years of age he has no previous convictions and no outstanding cases.

"Your lordship heard evidence and made the finding, however it's his position there was no sexual motivation

"As the result of this process his health has suffered with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

"He doesn't have any current connection to any individuals under sixteen years of age. There is no historic communication with children of that sort.

He added Motroni happy to comply with any order and had a blameless history where he tried to do good.

Telling Motroni stand up, Sheriff Hanlon said: "You were convicted of lewd indecent, and libidinous practices towards the complainer while playing strip poker.

"The evidence from the complainer made it clear that this has had a lasting effect on them. I thank them for giving evidence under the circumstances.

"The offence which was committed was a severe breach of trust in your position in the community and you took advantage of the situation.

"I will take account you are a first offender and it took place some time ago."

He received a community payback order with supervision for three years and will have to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

He will also be registered as a sex offender with the police for three years and take part in the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme.

We previously reported how the case thrown out at trial over the jurisdiction of offences having taken place in Italy – however prosecutors at The Crown Office successfully overturned that decision at the High Court.

Motroni, formerly of Smithstone House, Kilwinning, and currently of Stockport, previously faced two historic charges of lewd and libidinous conduct.

After hearing several days of evidence in 2020, Sheriff Michael Hanlon decided he did not have jurisdiction to hear the Italian charges and acquitted Motroni of all other offences.

However, the Procurator Fiscal successfully challenged the original acquittal verdict, arguing that the trial sheriff had retrospective jurisdiction over the incidents in Italy under the amended Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995.

Motroni was later found guilty of an amended charge last month [March 9] while found not guilty of a second charge.

The complaint states he induced the youngster, then aged between five and 13, to remove his clothing between April 12, 1992 and April 11, 2001 in Italy.

Stephen Motroni was educated at Saint Peter’s Primary School, Ardrossan, Saint Michael’s Academy, Kilwinning, the Sacred Heart Fathers’ Noviciate College, Gateshead, County Durham, England, Ushaw College, Durham and Durham University.

He was ordained as a priest of the Congrégation du Sacré-Coeur (Congregation of the Sacred Heart) at the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Saltcoats On 4 June 1983.

He served with the Sacred Heart Fathers in Dublin, Ireland till 1985 then did retreat work in Cheshire till 1989.

He resumed his studies in Rome till 1991 after which he returned to Gateshead for a year. Motroni moved to the Sacred Heart Fathers’ home in Smithstone House, Kilwinning in 1992 where he remained for three years.

He also worked in England and Dublin until 2003, when he returned to Kilwinning as a Sacred Heart Father as well as working for the Diocese.