Friday, December 10, 2010

'I am ashamed of what you have done to our church'

A 73-year-old former dean of the secondary school at Kilnacrott Abbey appeared before Cavan District Court charged with the indecent assault of a boy at the school 40 years ago.

Anthony McNulty, with an address at Kilnacrott Abbey, Kilnacrott, pleaded guilty to the charge and Judge Sean MacBride directed victim impact and probation reports before remanding the defendant for sentencing to Cavan District Court on February 10. 

Inspector Dermot Drea, prosecuting, said that there were six specimen charges related to the period 1969/70. 

The defendant admitted the offences, which involved kissing and hugging.

Judge MacBride, directing the preparation of a victim impact report, said that it was the victim’s right to give evidence at the sentencing if he wished to do so. 

Also if the victim wanted legal representation, he would grant it.

Defending solicitor Ms Ann Dolan said that Anthony McNulty was the youngest of 10 children of a devout family who entered the monastery after leaving school. 

He had treatment for sexual offending and now realised the seriousness of his actions. 

He had tendered his apologies to the victim and was thoroughly ashamed of what he did.

Ms Dolan further informed the court that her client had been totally removed from ministry and was living under a strict regime. 

It was over 40 years since the last offence and it was only in the last 15 years that the courts had seen an explosion of those prosecutions, she stated. It was a steep learning curve and it was only in recent years that the effects of this abuse were fully realised, she continued.

Judge: “That doesn’t excuse it; it is a total abuse of a vulnerable young boy. It is a very serious offence and it would be dishonest of me not to tell you that I will be considering a prison sentence in this case.”

Further addressing the defendant the Judge stated: “As a Catholic I am ashamed of what you and the like of you have done to our Church. You have betrayed a sacred trust; a child has been betrayed by you as far as this court is concerned”. 

Judge MacBride added that he had attended St. Columb’s college, Derry, as a boarder. It was well run by decent priests and laity who respected soul and body. 

He complemented all those priests who were loyal to their vocation and who felt betrayed by people like the defendant.

Giving the defendant credit for pleading guilty, Judge MacBride said he would study the probation report to see whether the defendant’s expression of remorse was genuine or not. 

“I am seriously warning you that you are going to have to serve some time in custody for this offence,” stated the judge to the defendant before remanding him on continuing bail to Cavan District Court on February, 10, 2011.

SIC: AC/IE