Ex-priest Daniel Curran Admits Sex Assault on Boy (7)

By John Cassidy
Belfast Telegraph
March 20, 2015

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/expriest-daniel-curran-admits-sex-assault-on-boy-7-31080733.html

Pleaded guilty: Daniel Curran

A seven-year-old boy fell victim to a paedophile priest after the clergyman went to his primary school and asked him to become an altar boy, a court has heard.

Disgraced former Catholic priest Daniel Curran will learn next week if he is to serve any more time in custody after he admitted sexually assaulting the boy at his family cottage in Co Down over 20 years ago.

Curran (64) of Bryansford Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to gross indecency and indecent assault at Downpatrick Crown Court.

The offences took place between August 1990 and August 1993. Prosecution QC David McDowell told the court that the victim was a pupil in north Belfast when Fr Curran asked his teacher if he wanted to become an altar boy at St Paul's Church.

Curran would take the boys on trips to his seaside cottage in Tyrella, Co Down. However, the priest would get them drunk and get into bed with them.

The victim, now 31, told police Curran then indecently assaulted him and forced him to touch him.

When Curran appears in the dock on March 23, it will be the fifth time he will be sentenced for sex abuse.