An Irish priest who admitted to sexually assaulting 10 boys in the Diocese of Meath, has been sentenced to two years by Trim Circuit Criminal Court.
Fr Raymond Brady from Baltrasna, Oldcastle, Co Meath, acted “like a predator”, said Judge Michael O’Shea, according to the Irish Times.
The 77-year-old priest admitted assaulting the boys, some of them brothers, at different locations including the parochial houses in Drumconrath and Kilbeg and admitted an attempted assault on another boy. According to the Times, abuse also happened in a caravan in Bettystown and in Brady's car as he took the boys to and from funeral Masses.
The majority of the victims were altar boys aged between 11 and 17.
The abuse was revealed when one of the victims told a priest in Co Louth who contacted the Irish police. The investigation was led by Det Garda Moroney of Kells.
Some of the victims were abused as they sat on the priest’s knee in their own living rooms while their mother was in the kitchen making tea, the court heard.
One boy told Det Garda Bryan Moroney he woke in his bed to find the priest standing above him. Apparently, the priest knew the boy was alone in the house and had let himself in to sexually abuse him.
Two of the men, who are now middle-aged, read statements to the court.
One said when he goes to Mass “it maddens me the way we are asked to pray for the church but nobody is ever asked to pray for the abused”.
“I want everybody to know what Fr Brady has done,” he said.
Brady gave evidence and apologized “to anybody I have hurt or harmed in any way."
The court heard Brady stopped the assaults in the 1970s after “an encounter” with a teenage girl who was the victim of abuse, “who opened his eyes to the impact of sexual abuse on a child for the first time."
Defencing Senior counsel Padraig Dwyer said Brady has been suspended for a “considerable period of time from engaging in any activities in connection with the church”, and that he would be laicised after the court case.
When he passed sentence on Brady, Judge O’Shea said, “I am satisfied he acted as a predator.”
He added that the sexual abuse could only be described as “humiliating, horrific and disgusting. He took their childhood and innocence from them.”
Brady received the maximum two-year jail term on each of the 11 charges; they will run concurrently.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Nov 13, 2012, 05:50 PM EST
when the hell will we ever introduce something to prevent this evil accurring wherever it does in childrens homes,anywhere young people are taught and in the control of adults,armed forces etc,there should be some sort of regular independant inspection check up in place ,how long do we have to keep reading about this rotten evil abuse.
irishrose524 | Nov 13, 2012, 01:23 PM EST
All they got was 2 yrs? Srsly?! For sexually abusing TEN little boys?! WTF? They need to be castrated!
eiriamach | Nov 13, 2012, 10:50 AM EST
There is one hopeful note in this article, about the priest who reported the abuse: "The abuse was revealed when one of the victims told a priest in Co Louth who contacted the Irish police." That priest deserves respect and gratitude for doing his moral duty and exercising moral courage in the face of well documented obstacles! And probably his bishop will never thank him, so I thank him.
esatdigiwank | Nov 13, 2012, 05:39 AM EST
Back to routine business for the demonic church of rome and its men in black with their own legal code.
The Commentator | Nov 13, 2012, 02:22 AM EST
The punishment should fit the crime. He should be put in general population and be given the opportunity to interact with like minded criminals. Although he probably thinks it is better to give than receive as he obviously did, he should now be on the receiving end. I apologize for the crude comment, but each time I read about the systematic abuse of children by the priests, the cover up, transferring to new territory and the lack of action by the church hierarchy, I become angry that these church officials do not have a shred of common decency in their soul. At least the Nazis killed their victims instead of inflicting a life long sentence like the Catholic Church has done.
cantwaittogo | Nov 12, 2012, 10:38 PM EST
And these evil freaks in frocks are going to tell ME I can't take a birth control pill? Puh-leeeze....
seamus60 | Nov 12, 2012, 06:51 PM EST
A very sad reflection on the system and will hardly inspire victims to come forward in any quest for justice.
seanomelb | Nov 12, 2012, 04:07 PM EST
What a joke 2 years maybe he something on the judge.
richard cahill | Nov 12, 2012, 04:02 PM EST
1 .. I hope Thomastown Co. Kilkenny checks this man out as he was there in the early 60s. As to the picture above it is inappropriate as Brady was not a monk / friar as it suggests he was a secular diosesean priest. It is abusive to be so careless with your illustrations.
abeliever | Nov 12, 2012, 02:55 PM EST
TWO FREAKING YEARS for assaulting the innocence of these people. It has become clear to me over the years that the legal system is a farce in both Ireland and Britain. The crime disgusts me but the punishment infuriates me. If i was a victim i would feel violated all over again by the legal system.
Ms.Gail | Nov 12, 2012, 02:09 PM EST
Just attended a television show (Ask Dr Nandi) where Dr Nandi and Dr. Nadine Gillmore talked about PTSD and how sexual assualt was the 2nd most frequent cause in males and primary cause in females. The treatment and social consequences are high. Such assault doesn't just affect the victim, but all of us. My heart goes out to the victims and my hope is that they are able to get treatment as it really does help, but never eliminates the problem. I too think two years not appropriate, but if that is what the statutes allow, so be it. BUT why not consecutive terms, at least that would be 22 years. And the victims should certainly go for civil action to cover the expenses of their treatment.
Happyhippo | Nov 12, 2012, 12:35 PM EST
If this was in Islamic countries in the middle east this man would lose the offending body part,works every time.
pilib04 | Nov 12, 2012, 11:12 AM EST
Priests still getting away with Rape, big surprise. That's why I won't give a dime to any collection for the bishop!
pilib04 | Nov 12, 2012, 11:11 AM EST
Abuse? This dog is a RAPIST!
Murph46 | Nov 12, 2012, 10:47 AM EST
Two freakin years-they get that for stealing dogs in the US!
TisEyerish | Nov 12, 2012, 10:34 AM EST
Two years? Hardly a slap on the wrist, considering the crime this man committed. When is the legal system going to wake up and realize that sexual abuse have a life-long effect on the victim? When this man is released, he will go right back to doing it again, and that's the really sad part of it. I say all sexual predators need to be behind bars for life because there is no cure for them, no changing them.
Jerry Kelly | Nov 12, 2012, 09:49 AM EST
Dhá bhliain amháin? Ba chóir 20 nó 40 nó 60 bhliain a bhaint de. (only 2 years? Ridiculous.)