Priest granted stay in gross indecency trial challenge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

A priest and former teacher was granted a stay in proceedings over gross indecency and indecent assault charges at the High Court, reported on 10 February 2020.

The unnamed man, who is in his eighties, faces trial over allegations involving a male pupil at the private school where he worked in the mid-1970s. His lawyers argued that age-related dementia, cognitive impairment and the delay of more than 45 years would prevent a fair trial.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission for the judicial review challenge on an ex-parte basis and stayed the trial pending a further court order. The case was adjourned to a date in April.