Gardaí arrested an 80-year-old man yesterday and charged him with
indecently assaulting 14 children while serving as a Missionaries of
Sacred Heart priest and he declared: “I am totally innocent of those
charges.”
Donnacha
MacCarthaigh of the Missionaries of Sacred Heart, Western Rd, Cork, was
one of three men from that order arrested and brought before Cork
District Court on charges of indecently assaulting children while they
were priests teaching in a school.
Sgt Anna Marie Guiney gave evidence of arresting Mr MacCarthaigh on 42 counts of indecent assault. They arise from complaints made by 14 men alleging they were indecently assaulted by the defendant at Coláiste An Chroí Naofa, Carraig Na Bhfear, Co Cork, on occasions between 1969 and 1989.
Sgt Guiney testified yesterday that the 80-year-old accused made no reply until the 42nd charge sheet was put to him. “His reply to this charge after caution was, ‘I am totally innocent of those charges’.”
Insp Mary King said the DPP directed that the case would be dealt with by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. She applied for an adjournment until Dec 12 so that a book of evidence could be prepared.
Defence solicitor, Dominic Creedon, applied to Judge Conal Gibbons to direct the media not to identify the defendant. The judge said the public had a right to attend yesterday’s hearing and the media was there to represent the citizen, and inform them of what went on in a public court.
Garda Gary Morris arrested Tadhg O’Dalaigh, aged 69, of Woodview, Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, and charged him with 10 counts of indecently assaulting two boys on occasions between 1979 and 1985 at Coláiste An Chroí Naofa.
Insp King said the DPP also directed trial by indictment.
Sgt William Daly arrested Liam O’Brien, aged 66, of Woodview, Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, and charged him with a count of indecent assault between 1985 and 1986 at the school. Insp King said the DPP consented to it being dealt with at district court.
All three will appear at Cork District Court on Dec 12.