Priest, 82, Denies Sex Assault Allegation

By Liam Heylin
Irish Examiner
June 2, 2016

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/priest-82-denies-sex-assault-allegation-402775.html

An 82-year-old priest was accused yesterday of indecently assaulting a boy in a school sickbed in the 1970s. He denied it 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 Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday. The priest pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the boy.

The complainant testified that the alleged indecent assaults occurred when he was about 13 and 14.

The complainant said the first incident occurred when he was ill with chest and stomach problems.

“I was not able to go to class. I was in the room on my own. (The accused) called to the room. He put his hand on my forehead. He put his left hand on my forehead. He put his other hand on my tummy and moved down. He proceeded to put his hand on my testicles and my penis for 12 to 15 seconds.

“I froze solid, naturally enough, I was a young boy on my own. I had just started second year,” he said.

He said the accused did not say anything during this and walked out of the room without saying anything. He said that the year after he was very sick and it was the day before he went on to have surgery on his appendix.

“He asked me how I was. I was extremely ill and in pain. I had not eaten for about 24 hours,” the complainant said. He said the priest put his hand on his forehead and his other hand on his testicles and penis.

Cross-examined by Tom Creed, defending, he said he did not tell members of his family about this at the time and still had not told them.

Asked if the specific allegations of indecent assault happened the accused replied: “Most definitely not. I don’t remember the incident (of the complainant being sick). Quite possibly I put my hand on his forehead. I could have put my hand on his chest or stomach but by no means did I touch his testicles, or anybody else’s at (name of school) or any time.”

The case continues today.