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	Priest Denies Aiding Child Rapist By Sarah Chapman ic Seftonandwestlancs [United Kingdom] May 24, 2007 http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/icbootle/news/tm_headline=priest-denies-ai ding-child-rapist&method=full&objectid=19177246&siteid=60252-name_page.html A Catholic priest has denied giving his paedophile friend money so he could groom and sexually abuse a Liverpool schoolgirl. Father Jeremiah McGrath, 63, admitted he did have a homosexual affair with convicted child rapist William Adams despite having taken a vow of celibacy, a court heard. He told Liverpool Crown Court he was so besotted by Adams that he was blind to his targeting a new victim. It is alleged the wealthy Irish priest was aware Adams, 40, was sexually abusing a girl when she was between the ages of 11 and 12 and McGrath handed over thousands of pounds so Adams could shower her with gifts and treats. Adams, formerly of Meadow Hey, Bootle, has pleaded guilty to raping the girl. McGrath, of Rosslea, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, denies three charges of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. McGrath also denies a charge of sexually touching Adams's victim on November 9, 2005. McGrath, who was ordained in 1968, told the court he met Adams when the priest was working in a hostel for the homeless in 1988. McGrath told the court: "Shortly after meeting him I initiated a sexual relationship." Andrew Menary QC, prosecuting, asked McGrath if he had sex with Adams in 2005 and McGrath admitted they had. McGrath admitted he had not told police the "complete truth" when he told detectives he had not had a sexual relationship with Adams. The court has heard Adams relocated to Bootle after serving half his sentence and later befriended his young victim. In July 2005, Adams took the girl and her family on a three-week holiday to Blackpool and McGrath joined the group towards the end of the holiday. McGrath told the court he and Adams were obsessive gamblers, but felt he had been used by his friend. When asked if he had been facilitated Adams's sexual abuse he replied: "No I did not." The trial continues.
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