Molester priest killed in prison

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SHIRLEY, Mass., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Convicted pedophile and former priest John Geoghan was killed in prison by a fellow inmate Saturday.

Geoghan, who sparked the Catholic church abuse scandal, was serving a nine-to-10 year sentence at the Massachusetts State Prison in Shirley for groping a boy at a public swimming pool.

More than 140 people claimed they were fondled or raped by

Geoghan at locations ranging from church rectories to their own homes, the Boston Herald reported.

The revelations about Geoghan led to the unraveling of secrecy within the Archdiocese of Boston.

Details of the afternoon attack that claimed his life had not been released.

Kelly Nantell of the state Department of Corrections told The Herald that the alleged killer had been caught and an investigation into Geoghan's slaying was under way.

Evidence collected thus far had been turned over to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office, she said.