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15/05/2007
Priest on trial over ‘child grooming’ claims
A Fermanagh priest has allegedly given thousands of pounds to a County Antrim man to help him groom an 11-year-old girl for sex.
The pair – Father Jeremiah McGrath, 64 from Rosslea and Billy Adams, 38, originally from Newtownabbey - appeared today at Liverpool Crown Court.
The men were originally arrested and charged in December 2005.
Fr McGrath is accused of three counts of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of sexual assault.
Adams pleaded guilty to raping the girl in Blackpool. However, he denied a further 11 counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, sexual touching and child abduction, between May and November last year.
Andrew Menary QC, prosecuting, said the priest knew the 38-year-old had a previous conviction for the rape of a young girl aged 8, and had visited him in jail.
He also said Fr McGrath was aware of Adams' relationship with the Liverpool girl.
A number of gifts were lavished on the girl, included a three-week holiday in Blackpool with Adams, who did not seem to have any income apart from state benefits, Mr Menary said.
“The prosecution’s allegation is that most, if not all of the money, came from this defendant, Jeremiah McGrath,” he stated.
“We say this because of his very close relationship with William Adams, he regularly sent Adams significant amounts of money or paid directly for certain aspects of his lifestyle.
“The existence of this money plainly enabled William Adams to provide these treats for the girl and her family and that Jeremiah McGrath knew, or at the very least believed, that Adams was sexually abusing the girl.”
The QC also claimed there was evidence of a sexual relationship between the two men, who met around 20 years ago in Ireland.
In police interviews, Fr McGrath denied any impropriety in relation to the girl, but accepted the Roman Catholic Church would not approve of certain elements of his relationship with Adams.
“It seems Jeremiah McGrath would indulge all of William Adams’ desires, including funding his interest in young girls, in order to keep Adams happy,” Mr Menary said.
Fr McGrath was granted bail. He denies all charges.
(JM/KMcA)
The pair – Father Jeremiah McGrath, 64 from Rosslea and Billy Adams, 38, originally from Newtownabbey - appeared today at Liverpool Crown Court.
The men were originally arrested and charged in December 2005.
Fr McGrath is accused of three counts of facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of sexual assault.
Adams pleaded guilty to raping the girl in Blackpool. However, he denied a further 11 counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault, sexual touching and child abduction, between May and November last year.
Andrew Menary QC, prosecuting, said the priest knew the 38-year-old had a previous conviction for the rape of a young girl aged 8, and had visited him in jail.
He also said Fr McGrath was aware of Adams' relationship with the Liverpool girl.
A number of gifts were lavished on the girl, included a three-week holiday in Blackpool with Adams, who did not seem to have any income apart from state benefits, Mr Menary said.
“The prosecution’s allegation is that most, if not all of the money, came from this defendant, Jeremiah McGrath,” he stated.
“We say this because of his very close relationship with William Adams, he regularly sent Adams significant amounts of money or paid directly for certain aspects of his lifestyle.
“The existence of this money plainly enabled William Adams to provide these treats for the girl and her family and that Jeremiah McGrath knew, or at the very least believed, that Adams was sexually abusing the girl.”
The QC also claimed there was evidence of a sexual relationship between the two men, who met around 20 years ago in Ireland.
In police interviews, Fr McGrath denied any impropriety in relation to the girl, but accepted the Roman Catholic Church would not approve of certain elements of his relationship with Adams.
“It seems Jeremiah McGrath would indulge all of William Adams’ desires, including funding his interest in young girls, in order to keep Adams happy,” Mr Menary said.
Fr McGrath was granted bail. He denies all charges.
(JM/KMcA)
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