IRELAND
Irish Independent
Niall O’Connor– 23 February 2013
A MAN has told how an abusive priest, who was also a family friend, robbed him of his childhood.
Fr Vincent Mercer (66), of Black Abbott, Kilkenny, had caused him “mental pain and torture” and a “living nightmare” which had lasted over 20 years, the victim told Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
“As a young child I was very happy but sadly in 1986 at the tender age of 11 my life changed,” he said.
“I was robbed of my childhood – I was abused by a very close family friend, by a Dominican priest Fr Vincent Mercer.
“For over 20 years I have suffered mental pain and torture that Fr Mercer imposed upon me.”
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