At the time of many of the offences, including the alleged ones the police speak of now, society did have a different attitude and he and others were able to exploit it.

Everybody is debating the parody lyrics above, but I recall The Grumbleweeds performing a parody of Two Little Boys, the theme being rather obvious and included a priest, and were performing this on the telly in a variety performance with a live audience laughing away.

No question that what he did was as wrong them as now, but not surprising that he could get away with it. The letter to The BBC by Cyril Smith in the '70s revealed this week shows how such things could be covered up by influence.