Former Priest Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse

UTV
April 20, 2012

http://www.u.tv/News/Former-priest-pleads-guilty-to-sex-abuse/457b3c99-f193-4352-9553-a9efd3209843

A wheelchair-bound former priest has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a boy and a girl, more than 16 year after confessing to a litany of other offences against children.

The former priest and convicted paedophile will be sentenced next month. (© UTV)

Joseph Michael Steele, 71 and with an address at Kimmage Manor in Dublin, was a member of the Holy Ghost Order who served as a pastor and chaplain of a children's home when the offences occurred.

On Friday, he admitted five counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency committed against the boy between 1967 and 1971. He also admitted three counts of indecently assaulting the girl between 1979 and 1983.

No details of the offences were revealed in court and Steele was released on continuing bail, pending the completion of probation pre-sentence reports before he is sentenced next month.

Back in February 1996, he confessed to and apologised for 11 indecent assaults and one act of gross indecency - against two boys and three girls, aged between nine and 15 - which took place between 1969 and1983.