Cork priest spared jail term over sex assault

The disgraced Cork priest who was convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman helping out in a Church sacristy was given a one year suspended jail sentence today and his name was put on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Canon Denis Forde, (aged 74), formerly of The Presbytery, Dunmanway, Co Cork, and now living at The Abbey, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, always denied the four indecent, or sexual, assault charges and he plans to appeal the convictions.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin explained his two main reasons for not jailing the priest. Firstly, Forde was never in trouble before or since these offences in the early 1980’s and secondly, the accused had worked throughout his life for the benefit of others in the community.

The accused did not apologise or express remorse for the actions of which he was convicted.

John Edwards senior counsel said on the accused’s behalf: “He has spent all his life in the priesthood. He can never return to that. He is a disgraced man. His self-esteem is damaged by that. I do not wish to say anything to the victim about remorse as he has maintained his innocence.”

Afterwards, the victim, Mary Morgan said: “I am delighted it is over. Many years of suffering have come to an end. He ruined a life.”

Mary Morgan, who helped out in the sacristy of the Church of the Incarnation at Grange, Douglas, Cork, said when she was in her early twenties in the early 1980s she was sexually assaulted on four occasions by the priest.