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	Cleared Priest May Face Abuse Re-Trial By George Jackson Belfast Telegraph [Northern Ireland] May 25, 2007 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2581613.ece A Co Londonderry priest faces a possible re-trial after a jury yesterday failed to reach a verdict on two charges alleging he'd sexually abused a teenage girl almost 30 years ago. Fr Patrick Joseph Crilly (63) from Tobermore Road, Desertmartin, was acquitted by 10-2 majority verdicts of two counts of indecently assaulting the complainant between November 20, 1978 and November 19, 1980. But after an eight-day trial at Derry Crown Court, the jury foreman said the jury of six men and six women were "inextricably divided" on two other charges alleged to have taken place between April 1, 1977 and November 19, 1978 allegedly starting when the complainant was 15. The abuse is alleged to have taken place in the Derry diocesan pastoral centre in Bishop Street at a time when the complainant, now a 45-year-old mother-of-two, had gone to Fr Crilly, to discuss becoming a nun. After the verdicts were announced the complainant immediately left courtroom four. Prosecutor Geoffrey Millar QC said he had no objection to Fr Crilly being released on continuing bail. "I will seek directions from the department as to the next step in the proceedings", he told Judge Corinne Philpott. Judge Philpott released Fr Crilly on continuing bail on the two outstanding charges and told him he would be informed "in the coming weeks" about the PPS's decision on them.
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