December 09, 2005

Mid Kerry priest steps aside following sex allegation

IRELAND
The Kerryman

A PRIEST in a mid Kerry parish has stepped aside from his ministry pending an investigation into an allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Kerry revealed this week that the Diocese has informed the gardaí and the Health Services Executive of the allegation and an investigation is currently underway.

The priest at the centre of the allegation is aged in his 60s and has stepped aside from his ministry following a complaint made in recent weeks relating to an incident that is alleged to have occurred during the 1980s.

The complaint was made directly to the diocese by a person who was adult at the time of the alleged incident.

The priest at the centre of the investigation has been in the same parish for the last number of years. The complaint relates to his time in another parish in Kerry.

Posted by kshaw at December 9, 2005 08:08 AM