A Co Louth parish priest who paid out substantial compensation to a woman he allegedly assaulted last March, has retired from active ministry following an internal disciplinary procedure conducted under canon law.
Father Turlough Connolly of Togher had been charged with assaulting Ms Geraldine O'Neill, of Dillonstown, Co Louth. But the case against him was dropped when Ms O'Neill told Dunleer District Court that she had been offered an undisclosed sum of money, on condition that she withdraw her complaint.