Appeal against rape conviction reserved in case of Donegal priest

Judgment has been reserved in an appeal brought by Co Donegal priest against his conviction and seven year prison sentence for raping a teenage parishioner in the church sacristy over 20 years ago.

Today the three judge CCA, at the appeal brought by Fr Daniel Doherty (aged 49), Derriscleigh, Carrigart, against his conviction on two charges each of rape and indecent assault, was told that certain evidence put before the jury should not have been included as it was highly prejudicial to the defence.

In May 2006 a jury found Doherty guilty of raping the then 13-year-old girl in the sacristy on dates in 1985, and had indecently assaulting her in the parochial house in 1985 and in his car on a date in December 1984.

Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan sentenced Doherty to a total of seven years in prison and certified Doherty to be registered as a sex offender under the legislation.

Doherty denied all the charges and has appealed, which is before Ms Justice Fidelma Macken presiding sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice John Edwards, against both the conviction and the sentence imposed on him.

This afternoon Ms Justice Macken told the court that it is highly unlikely that the court will have a decision before the end of the month when the current legal term expires.

The Judge added that as the court has so many other outstanding cases to consider judgment would be most likely occur in October.

During Doherty's trial at the Central Criminal Court the woman said that he stopped his car at a pier while driving her home one night in December 1984 and then climbed over on top of her kissing her and touching her body.

She said he told her not to tell anyone and that anybody would believe a priest before her.

She said he raped her for the first time in the toilet at the sacristy in 1985, the second rape happened in the sacristy after she and another attended confession.