13/05/2008
Priest Jailed For Child Sex Attacks
A Catholic priest who was extradited from Ireland to stand trial in the UK for a series of child sex assaults has been jailed for four years.
Father John Benedict Corrigan, 72, had retired to the Republic of Ireland in the early 1990s, but was extradited from Westport in Co. Mayo to stand trial for indecently assaulting boys in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Corrigan was charged with abusing three boys and a girl, who were all members of the same parish, where he worked as a curate between 1967 and 1975.
Corrigan had pleaded guilty to the attacks on the boys, who were all aged between eight and 13. The attacks were carried out between 1967 and 1972.
On Monday, Corrigan also pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently the girl, who was 15 when the attacks took place.
In addition to the prison sentence, Corrigan has also been banned from working with children and has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
Sentencing Corrigan at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge David Hobson said that the priest had believed his position was "unassailable" and that his victims' words would not be believed against his.
Judge Hobson also said that Corrigan had abused his position of trust "in the grossest way".
(KMcA)
Father John Benedict Corrigan, 72, had retired to the Republic of Ireland in the early 1990s, but was extradited from Westport in Co. Mayo to stand trial for indecently assaulting boys in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
Corrigan was charged with abusing three boys and a girl, who were all members of the same parish, where he worked as a curate between 1967 and 1975.
Corrigan had pleaded guilty to the attacks on the boys, who were all aged between eight and 13. The attacks were carried out between 1967 and 1972.
On Monday, Corrigan also pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently the girl, who was 15 when the attacks took place.
In addition to the prison sentence, Corrigan has also been banned from working with children and has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
Sentencing Corrigan at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday, Judge David Hobson said that the priest had believed his position was "unassailable" and that his victims' words would not be believed against his.
Judge Hobson also said that Corrigan had abused his position of trust "in the grossest way".
(KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.