CANON PATRICK McENTEE FROM DROMORE FOUND GUILTY OF HISTORICAL SEXUAL ABUSE IN TYRONE
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Dromore Sexual Abuser
A prominent priest has been convicted of multiple counts of historical indecent assault, involving four young boys, in a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Dromore, County Tyrone. Canon Patrick McEntee, aged 71 and residing on Esker Road in Dromore, faced a total of nine charges related to inappropriate conduct dating back to the late 1970s. The allegations spanned over a decade and involved boys aged between 11 and 17, with the court hearing detailed accounts of abuse that occurred during that period.
McEntee, who served as a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen, vehemently denied all accusations brought against him. The court was told that the priest would take some of the boys into his private quarters, where inappropriate touching and other forms of misconduct allegedly took place. The jury found him guilty on four counts of indecent assault involving one boy between 1988 and 1989. Additionally, he was convicted on a single count of indecently assaulting a second male between 1980 and 1981. Further charges included three counts of indecent assault involving two other boys, with incidents spanning from 1978 to 1987. McEntee was acquitted on one other charge of indecent assault against a different boy.
The prosecution outlined that during the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Canon McEntee engaged in abusive behavior towards young boys who were pupils at St Michael's College. The court was informed that the jury would need to decide whether the priest's actions were acts of pastoral care or indicative of sexual deviance. The victims recounted their experiences, describing how the abuse was ongoing and how some were made to sit on the priest's knee or were touched inappropriately.
One victim described being abused
McEntee, who served as a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen, vehemently denied all accusations brought against him. The court was told that the priest would take some of the boys into his private quarters, where inappropriate touching and other forms of misconduct allegedly took place. The jury found him guilty on four counts of indecent assault involving one boy between 1988 and 1989. Additionally, he was convicted on a single count of indecently assaulting a second male between 1980 and 1981. Further charges included three counts of indecent assault involving two other boys, with incidents spanning from 1978 to 1987. McEntee was acquitted on one other charge of indecent assault against a different boy.
The prosecution outlined that during the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Canon McEntee engaged in abusive behavior towards young boys who were pupils at St Michael's College. The court was informed that the jury would need to decide whether the priest's actions were acts of pastoral care or indicative of sexual deviance. The victims recounted their experiences, describing how the abuse was ongoing and how some were made to sit on the priest's knee or were touched inappropriately.
One victim described being abused