Children's charity protests at tabloid attack on their founder

Staff and supporters of the Pattaya Orphanage Trust in Thailand were very distressed to hear of lurid allegations about the centre in a report by Roger Insall published by the People on Sunday. The charity is currently taking legal advice against the newspaper. In the meantime they have issued the following statement: Fr Ray Brennan, founder of the Pattaya Orphanage in Pattaya, Thailand, totally rejects the allegations made against him. He recalls a one-hour conversation with a 'Mr Merlin' who the People admit posed as a bogus donor, and believes he has been the innocent victim of a set-up. Over 30 years Father Ray has created an orphanage, a school for the deaf, a school for the blind, a vocational school for disabled young people and a home for street children. In setting up these projects his overriding aim has been to provide an education to improve the quality of life for those in his care. Andrew Scadding, chief executive the Pattaya Orphanage Trust in London, said: "Fr Brennan's devotion to the children in his care is beyond doubt. He has our complete confidence and support." Other priests who have set up organisations that rescue children from the sex trade in South East Asia have come under media attack in recent years. Fr Shay Cullen - who runs the Preda Foundation for children in Olongopo, The Philippines has had a number of bogus charges against him. Since he led a successful campaign to change the law so that paedophiles (like Gary Glitter) who offend overseas can be prosecuted in their own country, Fr Shay has been attacked in the tabloid media and received death threats. He was recently nominated for a Nobel Prize for his work. For more information on the centre visit: www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/