A Co Galway priest was yesterday fined £100 and ordered to pay £5,000 compensation when he pleaded guilty at Galway District Court to indecently assaulting a 13 year old boy in 1981.
The court heard that the 73 year old cleric, unnamed to protect the identity of the victim, lay on top of the teenager while wearing shorts and kissed him on the mouth. The offence was committed after the priest had been swimming naked on a remote beach when he was alone with the 13 year old.
The victim told the court that, when he was 20, his father had approached the bishop about the incident, but was not entertained. Now, eight years later, he was in court and was glad to be dumping the baggage from his head.
The priest was charged with indecently assaulting the youth between May 1st and September 30th, 1981, at a Co Galway location.
Insp Martin Lee said the victim and his family lived close to the church where the defendant was parish priest. The victim joined the church choir and did odd jobs around the presbytery.
The teenager remembered going swimming with the priest on a quiet beach, where the priest swam naked. Back on the deserted beach, the priest, while wearing shorts, pressed himself on top of the boy and kissed him on the lips. The boy remembered the priest looking at his (the boy's) penis but he never touched it.
The boy later told his mother that the priest liked kissing him and his mother said the priest was being affectionate.
When the victim was aged 29, he told his parents of the incident. After that, the victim went to England. He had been treated in a psychiatric hospital there and in Co Galway.
Insp Lee added that at the time the matter was reported to the Garda and to the priest's authorities but the victim's father had decided not to proceed with the complaint.
The complaint and statement had been made by the victim on May 16th of last year.
The victim, now aged 28, said he wished to clarify that his mother at the time did not under stand that the priest had gone beyond friendship. The incident had a great effect on his childhood. It was an ongoing problem when he became unwell. It also had a great effect on his family and its faith.
Defending solicitor Mr Garrett Sheehan said his client wished to offer his deepest apologies to the victim. The priest had been asked to retire and was completely removed from clerical duty. He was now receiving counselling.
Judge John Garavan said he did not believe a prison sentence should be imposed. It was not so much what had happened. It was the terrible breach of trust between a pastor and a vulnerable young boy.