Extradited Former Priest Faces 34 Child Sex Abuse Charges

By Tom Tuite
Irish Independent
May 16, 2013

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/extradited-former-priest-faces-34-child-sex-abuse-charges-29273334.html

A FORMER priest, who was extradited from the UK to stand trial on 34 child sex abuse charges, was remanded in custody by a court in Dublin today.

The 62-year-old was brought back to Ireland yesterday (THUR) afternoon to face a hearing at Dublin District Court where an order was made banning the news media from naming him in connection with the historic allegations.

The ex-priest is accused of indecent assault of eight boys and two girls, mostly in Dublin, in the 1970s and in the eighties.

Detective Garda Anthony Maloney of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told Judge Hugh O'Donnell that the man was arrested on foot of 34 warrants at Dublin Airport yesterday (THUR) afternoon.

He was cautioned and the warrants were explained to him “in ordinary language” before he was transported to the Bridewell Garda station in Dublin city-centre where he was charged with the 34 counts at 1.25pm.

“After each charge I cautioned him and he made no reply to any charge,” Det-Gda Maloney told Judge O'Donnell.

Dressed in a green jumper, white shirt and grey trousers, the former priest stood up and spoke briefly at the beginning of the hearing, replying “No” when asked by Judge O'Donnell if he had a lawyer to represent him.

“I do”, he answered when was asked if he wanted one; the judge granted legal and assigned solicitor Alice O'Reilly to represent him.

The court heard that there was an objection to bail being granted to the former cleric, who is to face trial on indictment, which means his case is to be sent forward to the Circuit Court.

The defence solicitor then took instructions from the 62-year-old and told the court that “there is no application for bail today”. He consented to being remanded in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on May 22 next.

Ms O'Reilly asked for reporting restrictions to be imposed in the interest of a fair trial.

Judge O'Donnell confirmed that the reporting restrictions sought also applied to the name of the accused man as well as the alleged victims.

He also agreed to order medical treatment for the man during his remand in prison after hearing that he suffered from a heart condition.