Suspended sentence for former priest who abused boy
A 75 year-old Columban missionary who has a history of sexually abusing children has been given a 3-year suspended sentence for an indecent assault on a boy in the early 1980s.
Fr Patrick Maguire admits fondling the boy who stayed overnight at his house in North Dublin on a date in 1981 or 1982.
He has 15 previous convictions.
His victim feels the abuse has impaired almost every aspect of his life but asked Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to impose a lenient sentence.
Lawyers for the laicised priest says he's deeply shamed by what he has done and is even more mortified by the compassion shown by his victim.
He is now under the supervised care of the Columban fathers.
Imposing a three-year suspended sentence, Judge Mary Ellen Ring said the abuse had robbed a 10-year-old of his innocence and was inexcusble.
