A HOMOSEXUAL man accusing a priest of sexual abuse described to jurors in Armagh Crown Court yesterday alleged acts of indecency involving Father Edward Kilpatrick (53) more than 20 years ago. The 32 year old teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence on the fourth day of the trial of the parish priest from Murlough, Co Donegal.
The priest denies 19 charges of gross indecency and indecent assault on two altar boys in March 1975 when he was a curate in Steelstown parish in Derry city.
The teacher said he had been brought up to follow the church's teachings and to respect the clergy.
The church was a complicated organisation and he would belong to the more liberal wing. He was still a practising Catholic.
The man said he had been a "solitary boy" focusing on his faith. He denied knowing the co-complainant, now a 30 year old civil servant who has already given evidence.
He told Judge Tom Burgess that Father Kilpatrick was no more friendly to him than anybody else when he was an altar boy. He related confessing to the priest of his "sin of masturbation" and was offered counselling. He was invited to the parochial house, usually on a Saturday afternoon. He thought he was about 13 and the counselling went on for about a year without anything happening.
"It was like a sex instruction course, the man said. He sensed the acts might be a sort of solution to his problems, but after one incident he went home feeling extremely confused. He alleged the priest initiated sex with him in the sitting room, bedroom and in the sacristy of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. His relationship with the accused, he said, was generally cordial but on one or two occasions they had been extremely un-pleasant.
The man claimed the priest was advised by his spiritual director to tell him that he could "love me". He said Father Kilpatrick told him he felt what was happening between them was wrong. The priest stopped initiating sex and became distant and cold towards him.
"I continued seeing him but kept my distance," the witness told the jury. He alleged the priest then resumed regular sex with him. He claimed that after Father Kilpatrick was promoted secretary to Bishop Daly and moved to the parochial house at St Eugene's Cathedral, he visited him almost every Sunday for two years before going to a junior seminary in Scotland to study )or the priesthood.
When he found he no longer had a vocation he told Father Kilpatrick. He spoke of reaching a point while teaching in England that he could no longer cope with his emotions and felt suicidal. He sought therapy, which continued for 31/2 years.
He wanted to be believed and for the bishop to recognise what had happened to him. This was why he made the complaint. He admitted asking the church for money and cited the cost of his therapy.
Cross examined by senior defence counsel, Mr Eugene Grant, QC, the witness denied his evidence was "fiction".