Former priest dismissed by the Pope

Pacemaker Press 8/12/2011 Former priest James Donaghy arrives at Lagaside Court accused of sexually abusing three victims , Mr Donaghy has denied committing any sexual impropriety against any of them Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

James Martin Donaghy is serving a 10-year jail sentence for abusing three victims, following a 2011 trial.

In 2013, he admitted indecently assaulting a boy and was given two more years in jail, to run concurrently.

Donaghy stepped down from his duties in 2004 and has not worked as a priest since, but is now banned from ministry.

The Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor said that his diocese had been informed of the Pope’s decision by the Vatican’s Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

“This means that Mr Donaghy is not permitted to function as a priest under any circumstance, public or private,” the bishop’s statement said.

He added: “On behalf of the priests and people of the Diocese of Down and Connor, I again extend my deepest sorrow and apologise to survivors who suffered such pain at the hands of someone in whom they had placed their trust. I hope that this decision will assist those affected on their journey towards healing.”

At his 2011 trial, Donaghy was found guilty of 23 sex abuse charges committed against three teenagers on dates between June 1983 and December 2000. His victims were an altar boy and two young trainee priests. In June 2013, he was convicted of abusing a fourth victim, when he pleaded guilty to four charges of indecently assaulting a boy in 1989 and a further charge of common assault.

When he was sentenced the following month, the court heard that at the time of the 1989 offences, Donaghy was working a priest in the west Belfast parish of Corpus Christi, Ballymurphy.