Ex-priest’s sex abuse jail term increased

A former priest who is serving a 16-year sentence for the rape and abuse of schoolboys has had 15 months added to this sentence for abusing two other boys in the ’70s and ’80s.

Tony Walsh — known as the ‘Singing Priest’ — is due to have the entirety of his sentence reviewed by the Court of Criminal Appeal next month.

Walsh, aged 59, formerly of North Circular Rd, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of indecent assault on Jan 1 and Apr 4, 1979.

The victims were aged between 10 and 11.

Judge Martin Nolan said Walsh had worked his way into the confidence of the families of the two victims with “cold-blooded intent”. He said the sexual assaults were aggressive and incredibly frightening for the children involved. He said the abuse has had serious and long-term effects on the victims.

Remy Farrell SC, defending, said Walsh had already received a substantial sentence of 16 years for other offences and that it would be unduly punitive to add to this sentence.

Judge Nolan disagreed and said he would “unusually” impose a sentence consecutive to the existing prison term in order to recognise the seriousness of the offences and the harm Walsh had done. He said the latest sentence should go before the Court of Criminal Appeal next month when Walsh’s sentence is appealed.

Garda John Barrett told Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, the first victim was aged 11 when Walsh caught him eating sweets outside church before taking Communion.

The boy told the priest he was having a “mixed grill”, and this comment angered Walsh. Walsh took the boy into the priest’s house and sat him on his lap. He told him his parents would be angry at him for not going to Mass. He then pulled the boy’s trousers and pants down and masturbated him.

The victim said he got a fright because he had never ejaculated before. Walsh then put his penis between the boy’s thighs. He told the boy he would not hurt him and he ejaculated.

The victim told gardaí he did not understand what was happening and that afterwards he pulled away in terror and started crying.

Walsh told him his parents would not believe him if he told them. The abuse only came to light in 2008during bereavement counselling after the victim’s father died.

The second victim was aged around 10 or 11 when Walsh abused him on Good Friday, 1979. The boy knew Walsh was involved in the “All Priests Show” and was excited to be offered a chance to travel in his white BMW one afternoon.

Walsh took the boy to the Parochial House. He put the boy on his lap. The priest was rubbing his penis against the boy and was touching his genitals. The victim said he did not know what to do. After the assault, Walsh took the boy to a hotel and bought him a drink and a fry-up.

The victim did not tell his mother about the abuse until he was 14. He did, however, tell her about the hotel visit and she was shocked the priest bought a fry on Good Friday.

Mr Farrell said his client was in his mid-20s when he carried out these offences. He said he had apologised to his victims and had entered an early plea of guilty in both cases.