Priest cleared of indecent assault

The case against a priest accused of indecently assaulting a student in a school toilet on an unknown date in the mid-1980s has been dismissed after a trial at Cork District Court.

Liam O’Brien, aged 66, of Woodview, Mount Merrion Avenue, Blackrock, Dublin, was cleared yesterday of the single count of indecent assault on a 14-year-old boy, at Coláiste An Chroí Naofa, Carraig Na Bhfear, Co Cork, in the mid-1980s.

Judge Tim Lucey said one of the factors in favour of the defendant was that the alleged incident happened so long ago making it very difficult to defend.