UNITED KINGDOM
The Journal (Ireland)
A FORMER VICAR who abused a choir boy in the UK more than 35 years ago has been jailed for four years today, after his victim gave evidence using eye-tracking technology that turned his blinks into words.
At Bournemouth Crown Court today, 78-year-old Cyril Rowe was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault, which took place at a church in Tower Hamlets, East London, between 1979 and 1981.
The 47-year-old victim, who was only a child at the time the assaults took place, was now suffering from motor neurone disease.
His failing health meant that he could not speak or write.
Despite this, with the help of an intermediary and eye-tracking technology which monitored his blinking, the court heard descriptions from the victim on how Rowe would lock the church door, pin him down and sexually abuse him before apologising and giving him £1.
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