BishopAccountability.org
	Retired Priest Jailed for 'Appalling' Abuse Crawley Observer November 15, 2007 http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/latest-south-east-news/Retired-priest-jailed-for-appalling.3492733.jp A retired Catholic parish priest from Surrey has been jailed for 16 years for a series of sex attacks on two young brothers stretching back more than 30 years. Father Dermot Keaveney, 72, was convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault and other sexual offences between 1975 and 1982 following a two-week trial last month. Sentencing him at Brighton Crown Court, Judge Paul Tain said Keaveney's "quite appalling breach of trust" had profound lifelong effects on his victims. One of them has not married nor had children and has been to prison as he struggles psychologically to cope with being abused as a child, the judge said. Jurors heard that Keaveney, of Beacon Hill, Hindhead, repeatedly abused the boys, who were aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the assaults. He had targeted them by taking advantage of their deeply religious family, who had placed their faith in Keaveney when he was serving as a priest at churches in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex. The court heard he gave the boys, now in middle age, treats and took them on day trips and holidays before sexually abusing them and asking them not to tell anyone. Judge Tain said Keaveney had betrayed the parents, the church and the wider Catholic community by abusing the boys. Keaveney showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. The judge imposed a ban on him serving in any educational role with children. Afterwards, Kieran Conry, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, said: "I am appalled and saddened that a man who people entrusted to his care did not live up to the high standard we expect of a priest. I apologise most sincerely to the victims and to everyone else who has been affected by this shocking and horrific case."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.