Priest to Fight Sex Abuse Convictions

UTV
November 7, 2013

http://www.u.tv/News/Priest-to-fight-sex-abuse-convictions/127c2c9e-623a-4daf-83ea-666640c494cc

Father Eugene Lewis at an earlier court hearing. (© Pacemaker)

In 2010, Father Eugene Lewis was handed a four-year jail sentence following his abuse convictions.

He was freed last year, however, after partially winning his appeal and having the jail term reduced to two years and nine months.

The 78-year-old has already successfully appealed three of the 11 indecent assault charges he was convicted of.

On Thursday, senior judges in Belfast refused to endorse his application to challenge the remaining convictions at the Supreme Court.

However, his lawyers confirmed they will make a direct petition for a hearing, arguing a point of law of general public importance has been established.

The abuse was alleged to have been carried out in Co Fermanagh between 1963 and 1973, beginning when the girls were aged as young as seven.

At the time Lewis was based at the College of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, also known as the Order of the White Fathers, in Blacklion, Co Cavan.

Despite his suggestions that the accusers were motivated by a family conspiracy or compensation claims, he was convicted by a jury at Omagh Crown Court at the end of a six-week trial.

The priest has always maintained his innocence and claimed to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

A central point in his case was the alleged non-disclosure of material at the time of the trial.

Defence lawyers argued in the Court of Appeal that declaring his convictions for abusing one girl unsafe cast doubt over the others.

A three-judge panel was told directions to the trial jury on the "cross-admissibility" of all complaints rendered each of the guilty verdicts unsafe.

Barrister Mark Barlow claimed it raised an issue of general public importance which has never been considered before.

Rejecting his submissions, Lord Justice Higgins held that no relevant point of law had been established and denied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Despite the refusal Lewis' solicitor later pledged to make a direct approach for a hearing in London.

Joe McVeigh, of KRW Law, said: "We are disappointed that the Court of Appeal didn't agree that there was a point of general public importance.

"However, it's our intention to now petition the UK Supreme Court directly and we would be confident that they will give our application a fair wind."