The Bishop of Derry, the Most Rev Dr Seamus Hegarty, told parishioners in Dungiven, Co Derry, yesterday that their curate, who has been given leave of absence as the result of a sex-abuse allegation, was a broken, wounded man.
Father Andrew McCloskey (55) admitted during Masses in St Patrick's Church, Dungiven, eight days ago that he was the unnamed priest reported to have paid an out-of-court settlement to a man who claimed he had made sexual advances to him in 1992. The £15,000 payment was made without any admission of liability and Father McCloskey said that in 1992 he had been an alcoholic. The alleged injured party claimed that the incident occurred when he was 19 and had gone to Father McCloskey for counselling.
Following his admissions from the altar, the majority of the congregations at the four weekend Masses in St Patrick's applauded Father McCloskey, and yesterday Bishop Hegarty told them that their reaction had heartened and encouraged their curate.
Bishop Hegarty said that the prayers of the congregation were with Father McCloskey and with "the other person involved" and all who had suffered trauma.