IRELAND
The Anglo-Celt
Paul Neilan
Bishop of Kilmore Leo O’Reilly has expressed his “profound sorrow” and apologised to the victims of convicted abuser Fr Gerry Kearns.
On Wednesday, March 12, the 73-year-old priest pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault on two boys in the mid-80s.
He was sentenced to four years in prison, with the last three suspended for an ‘abuse of position’ and ‘trust’ in molesting and fondling the boys, who gave powerful testimony on the wrecking effects the abuse had on them, with one victim saying “I tried to do away with myself twice’.
“Regarding the sentencing of Father Andrew Gerard Kearns,” said the bishop, “a priest of the Diocese of Kilmore, pleaded guilty to five charges of indecent assault of minors in Cavan Circuit Court on 26th November 2013.
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