A former priest has been banned today from working in care after fleecing the bank accounts of adults with severe learning difficulties.
Kevin Cassidy stole nearly £32,000 from people he was supposed to help care for.
And now he's been struck off the Scottish Social Services (SSSC) register after an investigation revealed he'd been involved in "prolonged financial abuse and exploitation".
Cassidy, who spent six years in the seminary before serving as a priest at three parishes in Paisley, joined charity the MacFarlane Trust, that cares for vulnerable adults, in 2001.
It was his job to act as a "financial guardian" for residents, but instead he abused his position and embezzled cash from their accounts.
The theft was eventually uncovered when the withdrawal of cash using a resident's bank card during a holiday to Wales sparked an inquiry.
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A report ordering his removal from the SSSC register explained: "This was prolonged financial abuse and exploitation, using your position and the residents’ vulnerability for your own personal gain.
"You were in a particular position of trust and power as the manager of these services with financial responsibility, or access to the finances of, these seven vulnerable people.
"All of the residents were extremely emotionally vulnerable, having learning disabilities and communication difficulties. They had the right to trust you and expect you to protect them from harm."
Cassidy was convicted of embezzling £31,971 at Paisley Sheriff Court in February last year, and later sentenced to community service and hit with a two year supervision order.
He eventually repaid £15,000, and was ordered to pay the rest in monthly instalments.
He admitted withdrawing the money from residents bank accounts to support his drinking problem.
Explaining their decision the SSSC report added: "You caused serious and prolonged financial harm to seven vulnerable residents, caused emotional harm to at least one of them, and risked psychological harm to all of them.
"Your conduct took place during the course of your social services work, in a senior position of particular trust and power.
"The behaviour that led to your conviction for embezzlement was premeditated and deliberate, there is a pattern of serious behaviour over a five-year period."
