Former Priest Jailed for Attempted Rape and Child Abuse in West Cork

By Emer Connolly and Fiona Ferguson
Southern Star
July 5, 2012

http://www.southernstar.ie/article.php?id=3553

A FORMER priest who attempted to rape a young girl and sexually assaulted her brother in West Cork more than 30 years ago has been given an eight-year sentence.

John Calnan (73), of The Presbytery, 35 Paul Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of the girl between January 1st, 1980 and April 30th, 1980 in West Cork. She was aged seven at the time.

Calnan also admitted three counts of sexually assaulting the girl between October 25th, 1976 and October 24th, 1979.

He further admitted one count of sexual assault on the girl's brother between August 10th, 1975 and October 9th, 1979. The victim was aged between nine and 12 at the time.

The female victim told her mother, who, in turn, went to a member of the clergy about it. Shortly after Calnan was moved to another parish.

The incident was first reported to gardai in West Cork in May 2010.

Mr Justice Carney imposed concurrent sentences totaling eight years and suspended the final three years taking into account the mitigating factors such as his guilty plea, lack of convictions and the state of his health.

He also ordered 18 months post-release supervision and that Calnan stay away from his victims in perpetuity.

In her victim impact statement to the court, the female victim said that the abuse took place in a ‘locked room’.

‘My mother complained to another priest but nothing was done. A grown man tried to enter a small seven-year-old girl. The man who abused me told me to keep it a secret and my mother also told me not to tell anyone,’ she said.

‘I am still afraid of him; the fear of him and the place,’ she added.

She said that she found it difficult to make friendships in school and in later life and has become alienated from her family. ‘The abuse has caused a split in the family,’ she said.

The girl's brother didn't wish to submit a victim impact statement, the court was told.

Defence counsel Anthony Sammon SC told the court that his client underwent intensive treatment in 1992/3.

Mr Sammon said that his client has had significant health problems.

He read out a letter in court from his client, which was addressed to both victims.

In the letter, he apologised for the hurt he had caused: ‘Both of you were young, innocent and trusting. I abused that trust.

‘The guilt is all mine. I take full responsibility.’