Priest charged with sexually assaulting boy freed on bail

A Dominican priest was yesterday charged with 39 counts of sexually assaulting a boy at various locations in Munster on dates between 1986 and 1994.

Fr Vincent Mercer, aged 66, who is out of ministry but remains a member of the Dominican Order, appeared at Cork District Court yesterday in relation to the offences.

He was charged with 39 counts of sexually assaulting the juvenile, who was aged between 11 and 17 at the time, on various dates between Jan 1, 1986, and Feb 22, 1994, at several locations.