A decision is likely early next year on an appeal by a Cork priest into a secret Church court’s decision to defrock him for the serial sexual abuse of minors and teenagers.

An appeal is under way in the Vatican into a decision by a Cork diocese to defrock one of its priests for serial sexual abuse of teenagers and minors.

A retired priest has been found unanimously guilty of sexual abuse and defrocked by the Diocese of Cloyne following a secret ecclesiastical tribunal.