Priest Charged with 39 Counts of Sexual Assault

Irish Independent
November 16, 2012

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-charged-with-39-counts-of-sexual-assault-3295427.html

AN ELDERLY priest has been charged with sexually assaulting a teen over an eight-year period two decades ago.

Fr Vincent Mercer (66) of Black Abbey, Kilkenny, was remanded on bail after being charged before Cork District Court with a total of 39 counts of sexual assault.

Fr Mercer faces 39 charges of sexual assault against a juvenile at various locations in Cork and Limerick between January 1, 1986 and February 22, 1994.

The juvenile was aged between 11 and 17 over this period.

Fr Mercer is a serving member of the Dominican Order, though he is not in ministry at the present time.

Judge Con O'Leary remanded Fr Mercer on his own bond of ˆ2,500 to appear again before Cork District Court on January 10.

The State is then likely to seek a return to the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court.