Dublin Priest Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse

The Journal
March 21, 2014

http://www.thejournal.ie/priest-abuse-rathnew-1374783-Mar2014/

A shrine in Rathnew, Co Wicklow

A PRIEST OF the Dublin Archdiocese has been convicted in relation to child sex abuse charges and sentenced to seven years in prison.

61-year-old Fr Denis Nolan, who had been working in Wicklow Town and Rathnew until two years ago, was sentenced in court in Bray earlier today.

He was ordered to step down from service after a complaint of child sexual abuse not related to today’s proceedings was first received by the Archdiocese.

According to a spokesperson:

He was obliged to co-operate and engage with the Diocesan priest support co-ordinator, who monitors priests in such situations to ensure compliance with restrictions placed on their activities.

All information received by the Diocese was given to the Gardai and the HSE.

Child Safeguarding and Protection Director Andrew Fagan then visited the parish of Rathnew to meet with parishioners and other community measures.

Further information from that visit was also passed on to authorities, according to the Archdiocese, and “a thorough investigation by the Gardai led to the conviction today”.

The spokesperson said that Archbishop Martin had been “distressed by the details of this case as they emerged in court today”.

Archbishop Martin wishes to express his sympathy to the young person who was abused and to unreservedly apologise to him and his family.

He encourages anyone else to may have information to come forward.