IRELAND
The Irish Sun

By ANN MOONEY

A PRIEST and former headmaster who abused a boy for eight years has been caged.

Fr Vincent Mercer, 66, was previously convicted of indecently assaulting boys between 1970 and 1977.

He received a three-year suspended sentence at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in 2005.

Yesterday, having pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to 15 sample counts of sexually assaulting the boy on dates between 1986 and 1994, he was sentenced to three years in jail.

But he will only serve half — with 18 months suspended.