Case of alleged sex abuse by chaplain can include grooming claim

In 2017, the High Court awarded the woman €210,000 against the defendant and the school in which he was employed as a religion teacher.

The rehearing of a High Court action in which a woman claims she was sexually abused by a chaplain when she was a schoolgirl can include a new claim that she was groomed by the man, a judge has ruled.

Mr Justice Cian Ferriter said the woman, who is now in her 30s, can include the allegation of grooming as an independent wrong or as an aggravating factor in relation to her original causes of action which included sexual assault and false imprisonment.