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03/07/2012
8 Years For Cork Priest Who Abused And Tried To Rape Child
A priest has been given an eight-year sentence for the sexual assault and attempted rape of a young girl and sexually assaulting her brother more than 30 years ago in West Cork.
73-year-old John Calnan, of The Presbytery, Paul Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of the girl between January 1st, 1980, and April 30th, 1980, in west Cork.
The girl was just seven years old at the time.
Calnan also admitted three counts of sexually assaulting the girl between October 25th, 1976 and October 24th, 1979.
He further admitted one count of sexual assault of the girl’s brother between August 10th, 1975 and October 9th, 1979. The victim was aged between nine and 12 at the time.
The female victim told her mother, who in turn went to a member of the clergy about it. Shortly afterwards, Calnan was moved to another parish.
Prosecuting counsel, Alice Fawsitt SC, told Mr Justice Paul Carney the accused “admitted to paedophile tendencies” towards the girl and that there was “a grooming process”.
Mr Justice Carney imposed concurrent sentences totalling eight years and suspended the final three years, taking into account mitigating factors such as Calnan’s guilty plea, his lack of convictions and the state of his health.
He also ordered 18 months’ post-release supervision and that Calnan stay away from his victims in perpetuity.
The matter was first reported to gardaí in west Cork in May 2010.
(H/GK)
73-year-old John Calnan, of The Presbytery, Paul Street, Cork, pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of the girl between January 1st, 1980, and April 30th, 1980, in west Cork.
The girl was just seven years old at the time.
Calnan also admitted three counts of sexually assaulting the girl between October 25th, 1976 and October 24th, 1979.
He further admitted one count of sexual assault of the girl’s brother between August 10th, 1975 and October 9th, 1979. The victim was aged between nine and 12 at the time.
The female victim told her mother, who in turn went to a member of the clergy about it. Shortly afterwards, Calnan was moved to another parish.
Prosecuting counsel, Alice Fawsitt SC, told Mr Justice Paul Carney the accused “admitted to paedophile tendencies” towards the girl and that there was “a grooming process”.
Mr Justice Carney imposed concurrent sentences totalling eight years and suspended the final three years, taking into account mitigating factors such as Calnan’s guilty plea, his lack of convictions and the state of his health.
He also ordered 18 months’ post-release supervision and that Calnan stay away from his victims in perpetuity.
The matter was first reported to gardaí in west Cork in May 2010.
(H/GK)
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