Derry Journal
October 23, 2007
http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Derry-priest-acquitted-39Awful-nightmare.3401672.jp
A Derry priest found not guilty of indecently assaulting a Co. Donegal schoolgirl thirty years ago says he's relieved his "awful two year nightmare" is over.
Father Patrick Crilly (63), of Tobermore Road, Desertmartin, Co. Derry, was yesterday acquitted by the direction of a judge of indecently assaulting the fifteen-year-old at Derry's Pastoral Centre, on Bishop Street, when she had gone to him for counselling about becoming a nun.
Last April, following a seven day long trial, Fr. Crilly - a former Diocesan Director of Vocations - was found not guilty by 10-2 majority verdicts of two charges of indecently assaulting the schoolgirl. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on two similar offences which were also alleged to have occurred in the pastoral centre between April 1977 and November 1978.
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| Fr. Patrick Crilly |
At the Crown Court in Derry yesterday, a jury of eight men and four women was sworn to hear the re-trial on the two outstanding charges. However, prosecution barrister Stephen Fowler Q.C. told Judge Philip Babington that "the prosecution in this case will be offering no evidence". Judge Babington then told the jury foreman that, as no evidence was being offered, "it is, therefore, my duty to direct you to bring in a verdict of not guilty by direction to both charges."
After shaking hands with his legal team, Fr. Crilly was congratulated by his brother Fr. Oliver Crilly and by Fr. Edward Kilpatrick and Fr. Colm Clerkin as well as by other family members and friends outside Courtroom One. Fr. Crilly, who had made over twenty court appearances as a result of the four indecent assault allegations, told reporters that he was "glad this awful nightmare is now over."
"Beyond that, my mind is not able to take all of this in," he added. "I only found out this morning that no evidence would be offered. It is a great feeling of relief and it will take some time for it to sink in. I will now be contacting the Bishop (Dr. Seamus Hegarty). I have no comments to make about the complainant. I wish to thank my family and friends and my fellow priests for the support they've given me", he said.
The complainant who made the allegations against Fr. Crilly is a forty-five years old
separated mother of two children. She was not in court for yesterday's verdicts.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday, the Bishop of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, said he would be keeping Fr. Crilly, the complainant and everyone involved in the case in his prayers.
'Awful nightmare ends'
"I can well appreciate that the court process, in particular where child sexual abuse is alleged, is difficult for all involved," he said. "The diocese will support the complainant, Fr. Crilly and those involved in this case through our pastoral and other support systems in so far as it can."
He added: "I have said publicly in the past and I repeat again, anyone who has been abused by a priest or by anyone else should report the allegations to the police. The diocese has co-operated and will continue to co-operate fully with the police in their investigations into such matters.
Our objective in this diocese is not only to protect children but also to ensure that the church is a living and enriching environment for them."
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