Abusive priest handed jail sentence

A 78-year-old priest who sexually abused several girls over a 25-year period has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan who suspended all but 18 months that he must serve.

Father Patrick McDonagh (aged 78), of Grove Road, Newbury, Berkshire, England pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of sexual and indecent assault on four girls in Dublin, Limerick and Roscommon between 1965 and 1990.

Sergeant Gerard Daly told prosecuting counsel, Ms Melanie Greally BL, that McDonagh, a member of the Salvatorians order, voluntarily admitted abusing six more victims but did not divulge further details.

Sgt Daly said that when he arrested McDonagh in December 2006 for the most recent abuse of one girl in 1990 he gave the names of three other girls he abused and also said there were six other victims but refused to identify them.

Sgt Daly said the abuse started in 1965 when McDonagh used to occasionally visit a then seven-year-old victim’s home in Dublin and abused her on at least three occasions.

Sgt Daly said after several such incidents she started wearing trousers instead of skirts when McDonagh came and soon after this, the visits stopped.

Sgt Daly said McDonagh used to visit the home of two sisters aged six and 10 in Limerick for long weekends in 1984 and after saying their prayers he would climb into bed with them and put his arms around the youngest girl and touch her.

On another occasion the elder girl was sitting on his knee in the living room when McDonagh began to abuse her.

Sgt Daly said the most recent abuse took place in Roscommon in 1990 when the victim was six-to seven years old. One night when McDonagh was visiting the family’s home the girl wandered into his bedroom by mistake and was asked by McDonagh to get into bed with him.

He began to abuse her. The girl’s mother became concerned when she heard her enter the room and called her out.

When she asked her daughter if McDonagh did anything to her she said he didn’t.

On other occasions when McDonagh visited the girl’s home he used to sit beside her at dinner and touch her below the table until her parents ensured they did not sit next to each other.

Sgt Daly said when McDonagh was arrested in 2006 he admitted the offences and said he abused his position of power but denied there was any "sexual motivation" behind it.

Father Alec McAllister, Vicar Provincial of the Salvatorian, told Judge McCarten that McDonagh had been under their care in England since his retirement in 2004 and since these allegations had come to light, he had been under strict instructions to receive counselling and was not allowed near any children or to say Mass.

Fr McAllister said McDonagh had been a member of the order since his ordination in 1955 and had held various teaching positions in boys’ schools and seminaries as well as been stationed in Rome and Australia.

He told Judge McCarten, even if he was defrocked by Rome, McDonagh would continue to remain under their care for "child protection" purposes.

Defence counsel, Mr Patrick Gageby SC, appealed to Judge McCarten not to impose a custodial sentence in light of to the conditions he was kept under by the Salvatorians as well as his remorse and early guilty plea.

Noting the "damage that had been done to young innocent children" and calling it an "immense breach of trust" Judge McCarten sentenced McDonagh to between one and four years in prison variously but suspended all but 18 months on condition he complies with the directions already issued by the Salvatorians.