Former priest gets one year in jail for sexual assault of child

FORMER priest and serial abuser Tony Walsh has received a sentence of one year imprisonment for the sexual assault of a child in the early 1970s.

Walsh was a seminarian at the time of the offence, which is the earliest recorded case of child abuse by him. He went on to become known as the ‘Singing Priest’ for his role in a travelling all-priest group before he was defrocked after his abuse of young boys began to emerge.

Walsh (61), formerly of North Circular Road, was convicted last December after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of the indecent assault of a female at St Luke’s, Kilbarron Park, Kilmore, on an unknown date between April 17, 1973 and September 9, 1976.

He had pleaded not guilty.

The victim was aged between seven and ten at the time when Walsh locked her into a room and forced himself on her until he climaxed.

After the assault he told her it was only a game, stating: “We were only having fun, don’t tell anyone”.

Walsh is currently serving a 16-year sentence imposed on him in 2010 for the rape and abuse of three schoolboys.

Judge Catherine Murphy said the abuse had had “profound and damaging effects” on the victim, now aged 50. She imposed a sentence of two years and ordered that it run consecutive to the termination of his current sentence in October 2020.

She suspended the final year on condition he keep the peace for that period.

Judge Murphy paid tribute to Detective Garda Shay Woods who the victim, in her impact report, described as “wonderful in every respect” and as the “light at the end of a tunnel” for her.

Det Gda Woods told Garret Baker BL, prosecuting, that the offence took place in a parish hall run at the time by the Sisters of Charity nuns. Walsh was living and studying in Clonliffe College in Drumcondra at the time and would go to the hall to help out with maintenance work.

The victim would also go to the hall on summer holidays and would get sweets as rewards for helping the nuns. The assault happened during a game of ‘hide and seek’ instigated by Walsh.

Dedclan Brennan