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	Priest 'Funded Girl's Grooming for Sex' IOL [United Kingdom] May 15, 2007 http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=219408562&p=zy94x9z68 A Roman Catholic priest handed over thousands of pounds to help his friend groom a young girl for sex, a court heard today. Father Jeremiah McGrath, 62, allegedly gave the cash to William Adams, 38, to lavish gifts and treats on an 11-year-old girl in Liverpool. There was evidence of a sexual relationship between the two men, Liverpool Crown Court heard, and McGrath knew that Adams had served half of a 12-year sentence in Ireland for raping an eight-year-old girl. He also knew that Adams, originally from Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, was living in Liverpool under a false name and was taking his new victim on frequent trips to Blackpool. Adams has admitted raping the girl, in both Blackpool and Liverpool, numerous times between May and November 2005. He will be sentenced at a later date. McGrath, of Rosslea, Co Fermanagh, denies three counts of facilitating the abuse. He also denies one count of sexually assaulting the girl in November 2005 by touching her. Andrew Menary QC, prosecuting, said McGrath used his personal wealth – amassed through a lucrative shares portfolio and a successful gambling habit – to fund jobless Adams' lust for the young girl. Bank records suggest he may have given Adams around £21,000 (€30,000) in just a few months in 2005. Mr Menary said: "It doesn't appear that William Adams was in employment or had any income from any source other than state benefits, and you may be wondering where the money came from to finance these trips and gifts. "The prosecution's allegation is that most, if not all of the money, came from this defendant, Jeremiah McGrath. "We say that because of his very close relationship with William Adams, he regularly sent Adams significant amounts of money or paid directly for certain aspects of his lifestyle. "The existence of this money plainly enabled William Adams to provide these treats for the girl and her family and that Jeremiah McGrath knew, or at the very least believed, that Adams was sexually abusing the girl." Mr Menary said there was evidence of a sexual relationship between the two men, and that the priest would do anything to keep Adams happy. He said: "It seems Jeremiah McGrath would indulge all of William Adams' desires, including funding his interest in young girls, in order to keep Adams happy." The prosecution claimed that McGrath sometimes joined Adams and the girl while they were staying in Blackpool, and played along with the story that Adams was the girl's stepfather. A cleaner allegedly spotted a holdall full of cash in McGrath's room and overheard Adams asking for money. The hotel owner allegedly described both McGrath and Adams as "awash with cash" during the trip and were "spending money like it was going out of fashion", mainly on the girl. As well as giving him cash, McGrath is alleged to have helped Adams by playing down his conviction for child abuse when it was discovered by the girl's family. He also allegedly lied to the family by claiming he had not seen the girl, when he knew she was with Adams. Wearing his dog collar in the dock, McGrath listened impassively and made occasional notes while the prosecution case was made. The trial is expected to last until the end of next week.
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