Alicante Removes Street Name Honouring Father Ángel Escapa Following Sexual Abuse Admissions

The Alicante City Council has decided to remove the name of the avenue dedicated to Father Ángel Escapa in the La Albufereta area, following public outcry after two cases of sexual abuse against students at the Agustinos school in the city were acknowledged, attributed to this religious figure in the late 1970s.

"We have waited prudently for the explicit acknowledgment of the facts by the Augustinian community, as there had been no prior conviction for sexual abuse," explained Alicante's mayor, Luis Barcala, on Saturday. "Once the sexual abuses were acknowledged, there was no alternative but to remove from the Alicante street map someone who, through their conduct and behaviour, has not proven worthy of this distinction," he added.

"Without detracting from the merits that were once considered for Ángel Escapa's recognition," Barcala added, "the conduct of those publicly honoured by the people of Alicante with a space or street must remain impeccable in every sense, and such recognition is incompatible in this case with socially reprehensible and alarming behaviours like sexual abuse."

"For all these reasons, the city of Alicante will remove the public recognition of Ángel Escapa from its street map," concluded the mayor, who also wished to thank the Augustinian order for "the great work carried out over many years in connection with the city of Alicante," as well as "their honesty in addressing such a painful and delicate matter, where it would never be fair to judge many by the conduct of one person."

The decision by the city council to remove Father Ángel Escapa's name from the street map was personally communicated by Mayor Barcala to the management of the Agustinos School in Alicante on Saturday.