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	Parish Priest Challenges Paedophile Book Writers By Cj McGinley Donegal News April 18, 2008 http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/dn/free/322033646867339.php A Parish Priest yesterday (Thursday) claimed a former schoolteacher had never admitted he was a paedophile before he gave him a reference. Fr Michael Sweeney PP Gweedore, was speaking for the first time about a character reference he gave to convicted paedophile, Denis McGinley before he was sent to prison in 2002 for sexually and indecently assaulting boys over a 17-year period. McGinley, a bachelor from Magheraroarty who was 63 at the time of his sentencing, pleaded guilty to a sample 21 charges from a total of 115 involving 11 victims between ages of 8 and 11. Speaking to the Donegal News, Fr Sweeney, a former Donegal Person of the Year, said he wished to "clarify" what was written about him in a book called 'Breaking the Silence' by retired Garda Martin Ridge. The book details the investigation and subsequent convictions of three Donegal paedophiles in West Donegal including Fr Eugene Greene and Denis McGinley. He initally addressed the issue from the pulpit earlier this month but this week he expanded and for the first time addressed the controversial issue of providing a reference for McGinley. Fr Sweeney said there were a number of factual errors in the book referring to him. The most serious allegation relates to a reference he gave for McGinley. Yesterday Fr Sweeney moved to clarify the context in which the reference was given. The writers state that Fr Michael Sweeney gave McGinley a "glowing reference" while knowing he was a paedophile. Fr Sweeney claims this is untrue. "I gave a reference on my dealing with this teacher as I knew him when he worked with me on Tory in the 1960s," he said. "Denis McGinley never admitted his guilt to me before I gave him the reference. I would never have given the reference knowing that McGinley was a paedophile. Denis McGinley never admitted his guilt to me before he pleaded guilty in court," Fr Sweeney said. For more see the Donegal News online pdf editions
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