A priest who abused three children, the youngest aged just five, has died.
Francis Moore was eventually jailed for an eight-year term over the violations, which spanned more than 20 years.
A BBC investigation found that Moore, known as Father Paul Moore, had made confessions in 1996 which were covered up by a Bishop.
The Church said it would pray for Moore after details of his death on Saturday emerged.
He was transferred from his cell at HMP Dumfries to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary after falling seriously ill.
Moore, who was 85, abused three youngsters in Ayrshire between 1977 and 1996 – even striking at a leisure centre.
Even contemporaries did not escape his attentions – Moore also abused a student priest.
He was ordered to serve nine years in prison for his crimes but his sentence was reduced by 12 months on appeal.
It emerged during a BBC probe that Moore admitted abusing at least one boy in the 90s but then Bishop of Galloway Maurice Taylor sent him to a Canadian treatment centre and failed to inform the authorities until eight months later.
A criminal probe was not launched until victims came forward after the BBC documentary was aired.
Moore was removed from his parish in Prestwick and sent to the Benedictine Fort Augustus Abbey in the Highlands before retiring to Ayrshire.
He was eventually defrocked by the Pope in 2019.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Galloway said: “Bishop Nolan will pray for the repose of the soul of Paul Moore and for the peace of those who suffered by his actions.”
