Priest Denies Abuse Allegations, UTV, November 24, 2011

Priest Denies Abuse Allegations

UTV
November 24, 2011

http://www.u.tv/News/Priest-denies-abuse-allegations/815dd307-300a-4376-9bcb-d0f4c56be1a5

A former priest accused of sexually and indecently assaulting another priest, "categorically" denied committing any abuse when questioned by police in January last year.

Belfast Crown Court heard that during two days of interviews 53-year-old James Martin Donaghy, from Lady Wallace Drive in Lisburn dismissed Fr Patrick McCafferty's allegations as "complete fabrication ....pure fantasy".

In all Donaghy denies a total of 26 charges involving the alleged sex abuse and indecent assault of three males between June 1983 and December 2000, including Fr McCafferty, and another trainee priest and a former altar boy.

Fr McCafferty claims that the abuse first began when both were training for the priesthood in Wexford, but continued after their separatee ordinations.

The priest also claimed he later confronted Donaghy, who had become a parish priest, about the sex abuse. He claimed Donaghy had apologised and asked for his forgiveness, telling him he'd since undergone psychosexual therapy.

However, in the last of his police interviews while Donaghy admitted meeting with Fr McCafferty and apologising to him, it had nothing to do with any sexual abuse, but with the priest's insistence he'd been bullied by him.

"I did ask for forgiveness, in that I had bullied him. I apologised and we prayed," Donaghy told police.

However, the former Bangor parish priest denied telling Fr McCafferty he'd undergone any treatment. Donaghy also volunteered to detectives they could check with his doctor to ascertain if he'd ever been sent for any psychosexual treatments.

Police, in conclusion then twice put it to Donaghy that he "categorically deny" any of Fr McCafferty's allegations, to which he replied: "I can confirm that again".

Earlier the court heard Donaghy, who admitted he was a "strong character", but denied having a "domineering personality" rejected claims he had tried to abuse Father McCafferty.

The alleged incident happened the night before Donaghy was ordained as a priest and Fr McCafferty still studying for the priesthood.

The alleged victim had agreed to play the church organ during the ordination and claimed Doherty took him to his uncle's one-bedroom flat in Lisburn and abused him.

Donaghy denied the allegation, maintaining they both had spent in the night in separate rooms in a local convent. He also explained he never had an uncle who ever owned a flat in Lisburn.

"No we did not stay in a flat as he is describing, and this incident as he is describing did not happen," Donaghy told detectives, adding: "It did not know how many times you want me to say that... and what he is saying is a complete fabrication."

Donaghy went on to reject any suggestion that within days of his ordination he abused Fr McCafferty in his parents' house, the night before they went on retreat to a monastery in Co Donegal.

Donaghy claimed the then trainee priest never spent the night in his parents' home as there simply was no room in the house.

"That's why I said he never stayed at my parents' house," Donaghy told detectives.

Later he added: "The incident you are describing here never happened... It's pure invention... It's a complete fabrication, it did not happen".

Donaghy also refuted that during the retreat he acted like someone taking away his lover for the weekend.

He also denied asking Fr McCafferty to accompany him to Donegal, claiming they both had been invited by the monastery.

Next week it is expected a former trainee priest will give evidence concerning abuse he claims he suffered