Suspended jail terms for priest who sexually abused teenager

Irish Times
May 12, 2005

A retired priest who forced a then 16-year-old boy to perform oral and anal sex on him 20 years ago has escaped a prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Fr Harry Moore (68), formerly a curate in a north Dublin parish, pleaded guilty to buggery and indecent assault charges on dates between July 1st, 1984, and March 31st, 1985.

Judge Desmond Hogan suspended sentences of seven years for the two counts of buggery and three years for the indecent assaults.

He called the offences a "very serious breach of trust" on a vulnerable 16-year-old boy but said he must take into account when imposing sentence Moore's age and very poor health.

Garda Carol Fleming said the victim, who is now 37-years-old, reported the sexual abuse to the gardai in April 1999.

Moore voluntarily came to the station in November 1999 in the presence of his solicitor but claimed the teenager had not been forced into anything.

Judge Hogan suspended the seven and three-year sentences for 10 years on condition he enter into a bond to be of good behaviour, undergo an alcohol treatment programme and continue to engage with the Granada Institute.