Fr Eugene Boland Found Not Guilty of Indecent Assault

BBC News
June 27, 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-18606466

Fr Eugene Boland who was found not guilty of indecently assaulting a teenage girl in Londonderry 20 years ago

A Donegal-born priest has been cleared of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl in a parochial house in Galliagh, Londonderry, 20 years ago.

Fr Eugene Boland, of Killyclogher Road in Omagh, was acquitted of all five charges by a jury at Londonderry Crown Court after an eight-day trial.

Two women who clapped and cheered after the verdict were warned they could face contempt of court proceedings

Both were ordered to appear before a Belfast court next month.

'Innocence'

Fr Boland worked in the Diocese of Derry, and in a statement it said his acquittal had brought "great relief to many people".

The diocesan administrator, Monsignor Eamon Martin, said: "Fr. Boland has always denied these charges and, at the start of the investigation, the Diocese of Derry emphasised his entitlement to a presumption of innocence."

Monsignor Martin said the whole process had been "very difficult for everyone involved" but added the diocese "seeks to reach out to anyone who has been affected by this case".

He confirmed that following Wednesday's judgement, the "normal review under the Church's safeguarding policy and procedures and the Church's own internal process can resume".