Saturday, September 21, 2024

Monaghan priest to stand trial for historic sex offences

As more alleged victims came forward, the Crown Court in Dungannon has now added a further four counts of indecent assault against three males to the existing case.

A priest from Monaghan Town who originally faced two charges of historic sexual abuse against two males in Fermanagh, will now face a total of five charges. 

Canon Patrick McEntee from Monaghan Town worked as a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen from 1997.

Last year, the priest was charged with sexual offences including four counts of indecent assault against one male between 1988 and 1989 and a single count of indecently assaulting another male in Fermanagh between 1980 and 1981. The 70-year-old denies the charges.

As more alleged victims came forward, the Crown Court in Dungannon has now added a further four counts of indecent assault against three males alleged to have occurred between 1978 and 1987 to the existing case. 

Canon McEntee was Parish Priest at St Davog's Church, Dromore, County Tyrone until he took a leave of absence after the first allegations were made in 2022. 

During a hearing this week, the priest was remanded on continuing bail of £500 and the case set to return to court on October 1st, when a trial date will be fixed.