O’Brien to face Vatican inquiry over sex conduct

Cardinal Keith O’Brien will face a Vatican inquiry after admitting his sexual conduct “had fallen beneath the standards” expected of him during his almost 50-year career.

The cardinal shocked the Catholic community when he indicated that he would not contest claims against him and intended to retire permanently from the public life of the Church.

The admission came a week after three priests and a former priest accused Britain’s most senior Catholic cleric of inappropriate behaviour dating back to the 1980s.