LIMERICK (IRELAND)
Limerick Leader
October 12, 2020
By David Hurley
A priest who worked in several parishes in the Diocese of Limerick has been sentenced to three year’s imprisonment after he was convicted of sexually abusing a young boy two decades ago.
The 60-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had denied nine charges relating to offences which occurred on dates between September 1, 1999 and December 31, 2002.
Some of the offences occurred at a named location in a village in County Limerick which cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of the victim.
The now adult was aged 12 or 13 when the first of the offences occurred after he developed what was described as a “most inappropriate and unhealthy” relationship with the priest.
The defendant was convicted by a jury last week following a two-day trial before Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin at Limerick Circuit Court.
During the trial, the jury was told the offences involved him touching the victim’s penis on numerous occasions and masturbating in his presence.
Imposing sentence this Monday, Judge Ó Donnabháin said the facts of the case were “disturbing” and he commented that the offences occurred at a time when most people in Ireland believed such behaviour had “been left in history”.
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