DUBLIN (IRELAND)
Irish Independent
January 31 2019
A priest has denied indecently assaulting an altar boy at his parochial house, 30 years ago.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to a total of eight counts of indecent assault, on dates between September 1988 and June 1990.
The accused, who is in his 60s, is alleged to have put the boy on his lap and placed his hands inside his pants.
On the opening of the trial last Tuesday the prosecution alleged the assaults took place while the boy was carrying out jobs at the priests’s home, such as washing his car, cutting his lawn, and painting.
On Thursday the accused gave direct evidence that had “no recollection” of the boy coming to his home to carry out this work.
The accused, who stepped aside from ministry following the allegations, agreed with Lily Buckley BL, for the prosecution, that he organised and went on outings with altar boys at the time of the alleged assaults on the injured party.
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