IRELAND
The Journal
A CALIFORNIAN WOMAN is to sue an Irish priest who allegedly raped her in 1970 when she was 16 years old, US court documents show.
The priest, who is believed to be about 80 years old and living in Dublin, was visiting the diocese of Fresno when the alleged incident occurred.
The civil complaint, filed at the Superior Court of the State of California in Fresno County on 6 May, outlines the plaintiff’s claims that she was molested and digitally raped by the member of the Holy Ghost Fathers (now Spiritans) shortly after the sudden death of her father.
According to the woman’s lawyers, the defendant became a close friend of the family while he was assigned to the local St Anthony of Padua Church. He regularly swam with the children in their swimming pool and often played golf with the father.
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