Saturday, December 17, 2011

Former priest guilty of sex abuse crimes

A FORMER priest was convicted of a litany of sex offences against a trainee priest and two altar boys.

A Belfast Crown Court jury found James Donaghy (53) guilty of 19 charges, including indecent assault and attempted buggery.

Three charges of indecent assault relate to victim Fr Patrick McCafferty, who told the court the abuse began while he was at a seminary in Wexford, but that Donaghy, whom he described as “dominating and controlling” continued to abuse him including in his own family home in Lisburn.

Former altar boy James Doherty testified that Donaghy assaulted him in the parochial house at St Michael’s in Finaghy.

Donaghy’s third victim, who cannot be named to protect his identity, was abused when aged 14 until he was 20, when he was an altar boy and trainee priest.

Fr McCafferty and Mr Doherty waived their right to anonymity.