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	Priest Gets Suspended Term for Abuse The Irish Times March 5, 2010 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0305/breaking53.html A priest who admitted giving a schoolboy sex education lessons during which he indecently assaulted him has been give a two and a half year suspended sentence. Fr Ronald Bennett (75) was a former sports master and spiritual advisor at Gormanston College in Co Meath where the boy was a pupil at the time of the offences in 1973 and 1974. The court was told that when Bennett would summons the boy to his office - either by intercom or a message to his class - he would tell him how to seduce girls before removing his trousers and underwear and masturbating him. These offences had taken place on a weekly basis over a two year period when the boy was aged 14 and 15. Trim Circuit Court was previously told Bennett was jailed in 2007 by the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin for indecently assaulting four other schoolboys at the college. Bennnett, who has an address at a Franciscan house in Killiney, Co Dublin, was released from prison last year. Passing sentence today, Judge Donagh McDonagh said Bennett had been in a “unique position” in relation to the boy's education and had “taken advantage” of it to engage in “grossly inappropriate behaviour.” He acknowledged the offences were similar to the earlier offences and normally all sentences for such offences would be served at the same time. It would, he said be invidious to extend his time of incarceration. Judge McDonagh said he was aware of the regime the Franciscan Order has put in place and Bennett is “in effect kept in secure surroundings,” and has no access to young people and is not permitted outside except for medical or therapeutic reasons. The Provincial of the Order told him the specific guidelines in place for Bennett were the most restrictive of any in place and Bennett voluntarily co-operates with them. Judge McDonagh imposed a two and a half year sentence, suspended on condition that the accused abides by the restrictions imposed by the Franciscans. He also directed the priest’s name be placed on the sex offenders’ registrar for 10 years.
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