Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Indecently Assaulting Five Boys

Irish Examiner
July 30, 2012

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/former-priest-pleads-guilty-to-indecently-assaulting-five-boys-561222.html

A former priest who indecently assaulted five schoolboys will be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in October.

The 76-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on the boys in Dublin on dates between 1979 and 1981.

The pleas were entered following legal argument in his trial and before the victims had to give evidence.

The boys were aged between 11 and 13 years old at the time of the offences which took place in the then priest’s home and at a nearby school. The man has no previous convictions.

Judge Margaret Heneghan adjourned sentencing until October 8th next to allow her to consider all the documentation handed into court.

The maximum penalty for the offences is two years' imprisonment.

The various complainants made statements to gardai between 2002 and 2009.

Det Gda Carey said when gardai had interviewed the accused in 2010 he denied the offences but made “quasi admissions” about being aroused by young boys. He denied any inappropriate touching.

David Keane SC, defending, said the accused man had instructed him to offer a sincere apology to each complainant for the hurt he had caused and to ask for their forgiveness.

Mr Keane said the man had been laicised during the 1980s and had settled abroad.

He said as a result of these convictions there was little prospect of him being able to return to his life. He said the man has limited family connections in Ireland and will find it hard to live here.

Mr Keane said the accused has spent over two years in custody on these charges and suffers from a range of medical issues.

Counsel submitted that the offences were at the lower end of the spectrum.