NORTHERN IRELAND
Belfast Telegraph
By Michael McHugh
15 April 2006
Charges against a priest accused of child sex abuse have been dropped by prosecutors, it emerged yesterday.
Friends of the former parish priest in Bangor Fr James Donaghy have welcomed the decision as a vindication of his reputation.
The Public Prosecution Service decided this week that Fr Donaghy should not be prosecuted because the evidence was not strong enough to provide a reasonable chance of conviction.
Fr John McManus from the Down and Connor Diocese said the priest had been through a very difficult time.
"I can confirm that the charges against Fr Donaghy have been dropped. Fr Donaghy has been through a very difficult two years, years of emotional and spiritual upset," he said.