Courts / Dublin / Report
Paedophile 'Singing' Priest' Tony Walsh jailed for repeated abuse of child in 1970s
Summary
Tony Walsh, aged 67, a former trainee priest, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for six counts of indecent assault committed between 1973 and 1977. The court heard that Walsh had previously been convicted of 39 offences, 34 of which were indecent assault, and that he had been sentenced in 2018 to five years with 18 months suspended. In the 2021 trial, the victim, aged between nine and thirteen, described how Walsh repeatedly abused him in a church, groping his genitals and forcing him to masturbate. The victim's impact statement highlighted long‑term emotional and relational damage. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 12 months' imprisonment on each count, with the first five sentences concurrent and the final one consecutive, for an effective two‑year term. The sentence reflected the seriousness of the breach of trust and the victim's suffering. The court noted Walsh's prior good conduct and the delay in the case's presentation. Tony Walsh pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Paedophile 'Singing' Priest' Tony Walsh jailed for repeated abuse of child in 1970s. Charges or matters: all offences. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- July 9, 2021 Incident
- May 2021 Incident
- September 1, 1973 Incident
- July 1, 1977 Incident
- May 2020 Incident
- 2021-07-07 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: all offences (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Credit: Collins) Notorious paedophile and former "Singing Priest" Tony Walsh has been jailed for two years for repeatedly indecently assaulting a child 45 years ago. Judge Greally sentenced Walsh to 12 months imprisonment on each count, ordering that the first five sentences run concurrent to each other and the final sentence run consecutive to the rest for an effective operative sentence of two years imprisonment.
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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