Priest: Slideshow Sex Snaps Weren’t Mine

By Barry Moran
Irish Sun
April 30, 2012

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/irishsun/irishsunnews/4287843/Priest-Slideshow-sex-snaps-werent-mine.html

Fr Martin McVeigh stirred outrage when he flashed the graphic snaps at a First Communion meeting in Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, last month.

Yesterday he begged his parishioners for forgiveness for what he described as “this awful episode”.

But in a statement the cleric insisted that the images — which popped up in a Powerpoint presentation to primary school parents — weren’t his.

He said: “I deeply regret my failure to check, in advance, my presentation. I had no knowledge of any offending imagery existing in it.

“In my shock and upset and in my concern to ensure that the images would never be shown again, I destroyed the memory stick later that evening.”

He added: “I appreciate that the incident was very serious in nature and caused much anxiety and distress, and I apologise unreservedly for the hurt caused.

“I want to assure you, however, that I was not responsible for the presence of the offending images and in this respect I ask you to accept my innocence.”

Now on sabbatical leave, Fr McVeigh will face no disciplinary action over the incident.

Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Sean Brady has vowed to issue new guidelines on the monitoring and use of computers in parishes.