Ex Priest Jailed Over Child Sex Abuse

A former Catholic priest has been jailed in Dublin today after years of running from allegations of abuse against a young boy.

Patrick Hughes (82), of Parkdunne Court, Castleknock, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of indecent assault against the child, then an altar boy, aged between 11 and 14 years old, on dates between 1979 and 1983. The maximum penalty for the offence is two years.

When the allegations first emerged, Hughes fled the country claiming it was in response to "adverse publicity" before gardaí could interview him.

The court heard during the initial sentence hearing last October that gardaí attempting to investigate the abuse were "given the run around by Church authorities" in their efforts to locate Hughes for questioning – a claim echoed in the findings of the shocking Murphy Report, published last year, that examined how Dublin Archdiocese dealt with sex abuse claims.

Detective Sergeant Joseph McLoughlin told the court gardaí found Hughes residing in England on a tip-off over 10 years after first being made aware of the allegations.

Judge Delahunt congratulated Det Sgt McLoughlin today for his perseverance and the manner in which he ensured the case came to court, commenting that he was "nearly going beyond the call of duty".

She said the offences had represented a "gross breach of trust" before she described his comment to gardaí "it was an altar boy thing" as strange.

Judge Delahunt acknowledged that "adverse publicity" had caused Hughes to flee Ireland but noted that he had sought rehabilitation and treatment while out of the jurisdiction and had made a voluntary statement when he eventually returned.

She accepted that his plea of guilty had "saved the victim the horror of having to relive" the abuse and that he had since shown remorse for his actions.

Hughes was given one year in jail.

(DW/BMcC)