UTV
December 13, 2011
http://www.u.tv/News/Jury-in-priest-abuse-case-sent-home/fe7a947c-ddf4-4647-a813-a2f7bf27e4a1
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The jury trying the case of a former priest accused of sexually molesting three victims have been sent home but will return on Wednesday to continue their deliberations.
The Belfast Crown Court jury of nine men and three women had been deliberating for three-and-a-quarter hours before trial Judge Patrick Lynch QC released them for the day.
They are deciding whether or not 53-year-old former priest James Martin Donaghy sexually abused three men.
Donaghy, from Lady Wallace Drive in Lisburn, denies a total of 26 charges involving the alleged sex abuse and indecent assault of three males between June 1983 and December 2000.
Since the trial began last month, the jury has heard testimony from each of the three alleged victims.
Fr McCafferty alleged he was abused whilst at seminary in Wexford, at two parochial houses Donaghy was living in, at Donaghy's house before they went to a retreat in Donegal and also at a flat in Lisburn the night before Donaghy's ordination.
He said Donaghy was an "aggressive and dominating" man from whom there was "no escape."
Mr Doherty alleged he was abused in St Michael's Parochial House in Finaghy the night before a funeral when a naked Donaghy got into bed beside him and that two of the other three assaults occurred in the Parochial House of Corpus Christi where the accused had moved.
He told the court that while he originally wanted to be a priest himself, he moved to England to get away from Donaghy and the "years of abuse."
He also claimed Donaghy told him "he loved me and that he had loved me from the first time that he had set eyes on me".
Donaghy gave evidence on his own behalf, claiming he never abused any of them and labelling the allegations as "utter nonsense".
Earlier on Tuesday, Judge Lynch "charged" the jury, telling them not to approach the allegations as a "job lot" but rather they should look at each individual charge and the evidence relating to it.
He told them that while they may not be satisfied on the evidence of one witness or another, "you are entitled to take into account in the overall considerations the fact that other complainants have made similar complaints about the accused."
The jury's first duty, the judge reminded them, was to come to unanimous verdicts adding that although there may come a time when he could accept majority verdicts, "if that time comes I will bring you back to court and give further directions".
Donaghy was released on bail until Wednesday.
The trial continues.
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