The head of England's Roman Catholics has defended himself over allegations concerning paedophile priests in the Arundel and Brighton diocese.

Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor - former Bishop of Arundel and Brighton and now Archbishop of Westminster - said he had obtained files relating to ten cases of alleged abuse by priests and passed them to solicitors for assessment.

He said the assessment showed that correct procedures were followed and that "no priest was left in a parish ministry who was a threat to children".

The allegations date back to the 1990s. The Archbishop said the files would be passed to the Catholic Office for Protection for Children and Vulnerable Adults.

He said media reports about the allegations 'had given the impression that some were still serving in parishes and a risk to children. The impression was clearly given that I was negligent.

"This to me was a very grave and serious allegation. I'm concerned for the truth, for transparency and about the protection of children."

He said his priority was now to focus on victim support.

During yesterday's Press conference, the Right Rev Kieran Conry, current Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, defended the decision to place a parish priest who had been accused of child abuse in a house 30 yards from a school.

The 1995 case against Fr Christopher Maxwell-Stewart collapsed because the alleged victim, a nine-year-old girl, could no longer give evidence owing to a medical condition.

Two more child abuse allegations made against the priest were dropped.

Maxwell-Stewart was bought a £105,000 house by a charity run by the Diocese near St Joseph's convent in Deal, Kent, two years ago. Bishop Conry said the issue was a red herring.

He said: "Whether he is 30 yards from the school or not does not mean he is going to be any more of a risk. Surely the opposite is true."

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said he had never considered resigning because he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

Last month Father Michael Hill, 68, was jailed after admitting six charges of indecent assault against three boys between 1969 and 1987.

It was his second jail sentence for similar offences.

The Archbishop admitted he made a "serious mistake" when he appointed Hill chaplain at Gatwick Airport in 1985, after he had been advised that the priest posed a threat to children.