Tipperary priest cleared of sex abuse allegation in US

THE family of a Tipperary-born priest who was facing an allegation of sexual abuse in California have expressed their relief after an investigation cleared his name.

Fr Michael Kelly, 56, originally from Ballingarry in south Tipperary but working as a priest in northern California since the mid-1970s, received a standing ovation from his parishioners last weekend when he returned to say mass in public for the first time in almost six months.

“It’s a big cloud lifted from his shoulders,” said a family member yesterday.