Courts / Sligo / Report
Eucharistic Minister 'living a lie' as child abuser
Summary
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against the severity of a sentence imposed on an unnamed 67-year-old man for sexual assault. In November 2020, at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court, the appellant pleaded guilty to 23 counts of sexual assault committed against a victim between September 1999 and May 2011. Judge Francis Comerford sentenced him to twelve-and-a-half years, with four years suspended, resulting in an effective custodial term of eight-and-a-half years. The appellant, who suffered from ill-health, argued that the sentence was excessive and contained an error in principle. His counsel, Eileen O'Leary SC, highlighted mitigating factors including his early guilty plea, admissions to TUSLA before a Garda complaint, lack of prior convictions, and a public apology. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Leo Mulrooney BL, countered that the abuse was serious, occurring in the appellant's car, home, and a garden shed, causing the victim severe psychological harm. In an ex tempore judgment delivered by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, the court found the sentence fell within the judge's margin of appreciation. The judges noted the appellant had been "living a lie" while serving as a Minister of the Eucharist and concluded that no error in principle was made in imposing the custodial term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Eucharistic Minister 'living a lie' as child abuser. Charges or matters: the child protection agency TUSLA even before a complaint had been made to gardai. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 2020 Incident
- September 1999 Incident
- May 2011 Incident
- April 1 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-04-08 Publication
Why: The man – who cannot be named in order to protect the victim's identity – was sentenced to twelve-and-a-half years with four years suspended at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court in November 2020 after he pleaded guilty to 23 counts of sexual assault against his victim between September 1999 and May 2011. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the child protection agency TUSLA even before a complaint had been made to gardai (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The man – who cannot be named in order to protect the victim's identity – was sentenced to twelve-and-a-half years with four years suspended at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court in November 2020 after he pleaded guilty to 23 counts of sexual assault against his victim between September 1999 and May 2011. Now aged 67 and suffering from ill-health, the man launched an appeal against the severity of the sentence imposed by Judge Francis Comerford.
Places mentioned
- Sligo
- Sligo Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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