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	Paedophile Priest Who Had Served Seven-Year Term Is Sent Back to Jail Irish Independent May 26, 2006 http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3? ca=9&si=1620944&issue_id=14104 A PAEDOPHILE priest who has already served a seven-year jail term for indecently assaulting nine boys was yesterday back behind bars. Daniel Curran was also given an 18-month suspended sentence last year for indecently assaulting a tenth boy on two occasions while he was a priest at St Paul's parish in Belfast and chaplain of the local boy scouts. Jailing the 56-year-old for 14 months, Belfast Crown Court Judge Tom Burgess said he should be "returned to prison to reflect [on] the damage he has done" to his victim. The judge ordered him to be listed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. Curran, from Bryansford Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault between 1977 and 1982. Fifteen other counts of indecent assault against the same victim, who is now in his 40s, were left on the books. Prosecution QC Jim Lavery told the court that the victim was "abused on a regular basis" by the priest over the five-year period, and the charges were "sample counts" to reflect each year of the abuse. He told the court that Curran formed a relationship with his victims mother and "used this relationship" to come to the house regularly. Mr Lavery said Curran would drink with members of the family then stay in the house overnight and this is when the abuse began. He told the court that the victim made a statement to police in April 2004 but Curran did not accept his guilt when he was arrested and questioned. Mr Lavery said the victim had "done all he can to come to terms with his problems" and is getting counselling, but "still has many difficulties facing him". He added that the man wanted "closure" and did not make his statement against the priest for revenge or punishment. Defence QC Jim Gallagher told the court that before Curran was jailed for seven years in 1995 for indecently assaulting nine boys, the priest had received therapy for "excessive drinking and sexual matters" and did not require further treatment. Mr Gallagher also revealed that since his release from prison the priest had been monitored on a monthly basis and he had not come to the notice of the police since then or re-offended. Mr Gallagher said Curran had shown "great remorse".
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