FR PATRICK CROWLEY FROM CO KILDARE JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN CORK AND BALLINCOLLIG

In a series of disturbing criminal cases, former priest Fr Patrick Crowley, who has ties to Co Kildare, has been convicted and sentenced for multiple instances of sexual abuse involving young boys in Cork and Ballincollig. The gravity of his offenses has shocked the community and brought to light the long-lasting scars inflicted upon his victims.

In the most recent case, Crowley, aged 62 and residing at Cuan Mhuire, Athy, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting to sexually assaulting two altar boys in a church sacristy in Cork over a period spanning from September 1989 to June 1990. The court heard that the abuse occurred after morning mass, with one victim describing the experience as his 'dirty secret.' This victim recounted how the trauma transformed him from a cheerful, carefree boy into someone secretive and guarded, plagued by fear and anxiety. He revealed in a victim impact statement that he had written to the Diocese of Cork & Ross in 1999 about the abuse, but it was only nearly a decade later that the matter was handed over to the Gardaí. The second victim, who came forward after the publication of the Murphy Report and upon becoming a father, also expressed regret for not speaking out sooner.

Crowley's remorse was evident as he apologized to his victims, acknowledging that his betrayal of trust was terrible. He admitted that it was only through the recent clerical sex abuse scandals that he fully understood the long-term consequences of his actions. Judge Patrick Moran emphasized the profound impact on the victims' innocence, noting that it was fortunate they had been able to move forward with their lives despite the trauma.

It was also revealed that Crowley had left his priestly duties in 1994 and was laicised in 2002. His criminal history includes an earlier conviction in December 2003, when he was sentenced to eight months in jail for sexually assaulting an altar boy in Ballincollig parish church, Co Cork, during the late 1980s. The victim, then around 11 years old and in sixth class, was assaulted in the church sacristy shortly after Sunday mass. Crowley, who was at that time serving as a priest in Ballincollig, was found guilty of three counts of indecent or sexual assault.

Details of the abuse were harrowing, with Garda Det Donal O’Connell describing how Crowley would approach the young boy from behind after mass, feeling his chest and then touching his private areas, often in the sacristy or the parochial house. The victim recounted feeling Crowley's erect penis rubbing against him during the assaults. The victim decided to report the incidents to the Gardaí after his partner gave birth to their son, expressing concern that if such abuse happened to his own child, he would be unable to cope.

Crowley, who is no longer a priest, expressed deep regret for his actions, stating, “I think it is horrifyingly sad. I regret it so deeply. Saying sorry is so meaningless, so useless to him (the victim) and his suffering. I will live with his pain and my pain for the rest of my life.”

It was also noted that Crowley had a prior conviction in 1991 for a similar offence, which was dismissed under the Probation of Offenders Act. Furthermore, the court was informed that Crowley had been re-admitted to a sexual treatment center in England in 1994 after British police had identified him for attempting to solicit sex from a minor, highlighting a troubling pattern of behavior that persisted over the years.