‘Singing priest’ gets 7 years for raping boy

Former ‘singing priest’ Tony Walsh has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for raping a boy three times, once with a crucifix.

Anthony Walsh, aged 62, committed the offence at a time when the maximum penalty for this offence, then legally termed indecent assault, was two years. But yesterday Judge Elma Sheahan used her discretion to impose consecutive sentences.

The Criminal Law (Rape) Amendment 1990 increased the maximum penalty to 14 years for sexually assaulting a child under the age of 17.