Murphy Report priest jailed for two years

An 81-year-old priest named in the Murphy Report has today been jailed for two years for sexually abusing a girl 30 years ago.

Paul McGennis, of Holy Cross Diocesan Centre, Clonliffe Road, pleaded guilty to eight sample counts of indecent assault at two locations in Dublin on dates between 1980 and 1984.

The 81-year-old priest kept his head bowed and his eyes closed throughout today's court appearance.

At his last hearing Paul McGennis apologised to his victim for putting her through "torture".

She was a girl of 11 when he began sexually abusing her at his parish house in Dublin in 1980.

She told the court: "His abuse has made sure that I will never be the person I once could have been."

Judge Des Hogan called her evidence "harrowing" and said a great wrong had been done to her by a man who knew at the time that his word would never be questioned.

He called the abuse an exercise in control of a young girl through deceit for the basest of motives, namely selfish and uncaring sexual gratification.

McGennis has four previous convictions for indecent assault. He remains a priest but is barred from celebrating Mass publicly.

The judge factored in his age and ill health in imposing a six-year sentence with the last four years suspended.