Co Tyrone priest facing historic sex offences: charges linked to three more complainants added

DROMORE WEST (IRELAND)
The Irish News [Belfast, Northern Ireland]

September 17, 2024

By Tanya Fowles

Dungannon Crown Court was informed that further charges involving three other males has been added

A Co Tyrone priest charged with two counts of historic sex offences involving two males has had a further three charges added.

Canon Patrick McEntee (70) from Esker Road, Dromore requested a leave of absence in 2022 while a serious safeguarding investigation was carried out.

Last year he was charged with sexual offences against two males which allegedly occurred in the Co Fermanagh area.

Canon McEntee is a former teacher, governor and college president at St Michael’s College in Enniskillen.

He was also college president between 1994 and 2000, moving on to take up the post of parish priest at St Davog’s Church in Dromore, in 2001, where he has remained until his recent leave of absence.

He faced a total of of five counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1980s.

However after entering not guilty pleas to these charges earlier this year, Dungannon Crown Court was informed further complainants had since come forward and an additional case was in the system.

These were joined to the existing case on Tuesday where Canon McEntee denied a further four counts of indecent assault against three males- two counts against one and single counts against the other two.

Offending is alleged to have occurred on various dates between 1978 and 1987.

Judge Richard Greene remanded Cannon McEntee on continuing bail of £500 and banned all contact with the complainants and any person aged under 16.

The case will return to court on 1 October when a trial date is to be fixed.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/co-tyrone-priest-facing-historic-child-sex-offences-charges-linked-to-three-more-complainants-added-IUONX4C3OBFCTESZ2243S4TRBM/