Fr Eugene Lewis in court battle over child abuse convictions

NORTHERN IRELAND
BBC News

A Catholic priest jailed for sexually abusing young girls more than 40 years ago is to take his fight to clear his name to the UK’s highest court.

Fr Eugene Lewis has already successfully appealed three of 11 indecent assault charges he was found guilty of committing.

Senior judges in Belfast have denied his application to go before the Supreme Court on the remaining counts.

But his lawyers confirmed he will now make a direct petition for a hearing.

They argue a point of law of general public importance has been established.

In 2010 the 78-year-old priest was sentenced to four years in prison for molesting three girls.

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