03/09/2010

Paedophile Priest Gets Four Years

A Catholic priest has been jailed for four years for sexually abusing three sisters in their home in County Fermanagh more than 40 years ago.

Father Eugene Lewis, 76, was found guilty of 11 charges of indecently assaulting the girls between 1963 and 1973. The girls were between seven and 13 years old at the time.

The former provincial superior of the Society of Missionaries of Africa still maintains he is innocent and in a statement through his solicitor he claimed his conviction was a "miscarriage of justice".

The family had greet Fr Lewis into their home and often visited at bedtime or on a bath night.

Judge Babington said the victims were "very, very young when they were abused" and that there had been and still is "a significant impact on the injured parties as evidenced by the victim impact reports".

The judge also ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register and banned him from working with children indefinitely.

(CD/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 March 2024
Call For Education On Violence Against Women And Girls
The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has been challenged by the SDLP on the proposed introduction of mandatory education around violence against women and girls in schools.
12 February 2024
22-Year-Old Man Jailed For Rape At Laganside Crown Court
A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to six years for rape at Laganside Crown Court. Ahmad Alsbaihi was sentenced to six years. He will serve three years in custody and three years on licence. He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for 10 years.
09 February 2024
2nd Year Of Safety Equipment Initiative For Domestic Abuse Victims
An initiative providing security equipment to victims of domestic abuse who live in the Derry City & Strabane District has entered its second year. The aim of the initiative to help victims feel safer involves The Police Service of Northern Ireland and Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).
19 April 2024
Executive Urged To Take Action For Victims And Survivors
Victims and survivors of the Troubles are at risk of being left behind without urgent action from the Executive Office. The Alliance Party has raised the issue following what it described as a "constructive meeting" with the Victims and Survivors Service.
09 July 2002
NI religious attitudes hardening
There is an increasing hardening of attitudes by both Protestants and Catholics towards living, working and learning together according to new research. The research conducted by the University of Ulster reveals that Protestants’ and Catholics’ perceptions of each other are becoming increasingly negative.