Priest accused of indecently assaulting boy in his sickbed

RTE News
June 1, 2016

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0601/792637-priest-indecent-assault-court-cork/

A jury of three women and nine men was sworn in to hear the case at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court today

An 82-year-old priest has gone on trial accused of indecently assaulting a boy in a school sickbed in the 1970s.

The priest has denied the two charges and said he acted like a father to all the boys.

A jury of three women and nine men was sworn in to hear the case before Judge Gerard O'Brien at the Cork Circuit Criminal Court today.

The complainant testified that the alleged assaults occurred when he was approximately 13 or 14 years old.

He said the first incident occurred when he was unwell with chest and stomach problems.

He told the court the accused put his left hand on his forehead, and his other hand on his tummy and moved down, putting his hand on his testicles and penis for up to 15 seconds.

He alleged the second incident happened a year later when he was also unwell.

The accused denied that this had ever happened.

He said he "acted like a father to the children as best he could" and he followed "the example of his own dear father."

The trial is to continue tomorrow.