THE IRISH TIMES AND FALSE ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE

[This article was on the bottom of page 6 of the Irish Times last Thursday, immediately after three articles about the Monica Leech libel case. It would be very easy to miss, especially as it is not mentioned in the "News Digest" section on the front page that summarises important items on inside pages.

Among the items that IS highlighted in "News Digest" is the following:
"Baby grand piano: The Cork School of Music has taken delivery of the world's largest order of Steinway baby grand pianos, worth E2.5 million. The 57 grand pianos were transported to the new school building at Union Quay: page 2." (The space given to the article and photo on page 2 is much bigger than that allocated to the following page 6 article).

It is wonderful that the Irish Times is so devoted to culture. What a pity they are equally devoted to a form of religious hatred that is no better than Anti-Semitism.

Rory Connor
1 July 2007]

Man Who Made False Abuse Claims About Priest Jailed For Four Years
Irish Times, 28 June 2007

A Dublin man who falsely claimed he was buggered by a priest has been jailed for four years by Judge Patricia Ryan following a plea for mercy for him from from the victim.

Paul Anderson (34), Crumlin Park, Crumlin, Dublin, and formerly of Fatima Mansions and Iveagh Trust Flats, New Bride Street, was convicted in June by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of falsely claiming the priest sexually abused him while allegedly giving him first Holy Communion tuition over 25 years ago.

Anderson had denied making a false statement to Det Garda Brian Kavanagh at Kevin Street Garda Station on June 18th, 2003 that acts of indecent assault and buggery were committed on him by the priest in 1981.

He repeated his claim during his 17-day trial.

The jury returned its 10-2 majority guilty verdict after deliberating for almost six hours and having spent one night in a hotel.

Det Sgt Martin Mooney told prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn that when the investigation revealed Anderson's claims were all untrue, the priest was reinstated to his pastoral ministry at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 2003 and received a standing ovation from the congregation.

The priest said in his victim impact statement that Anderson's false accusation "was more like a case of armed robbery" in which his name and reputation were used to try to extract money from the church. "I would honestly have preferred had the perpetrator shot me through the head rather than have put me and my family through the pangs of anxiety and the profound sufferings we endured over the past four years".

He said that as a result of Anderson AND THE ONE-IN-FOUR GROUP [my emphasis] going to the Archbishop of Dublin with the false accusation he was "instantly and publicly suspended from ministry" and had to leave his home to live with relatives in what he described as "this Guantanamo Bay reaction".

The priest said he would be forever grateful to the professionalism of members of An Garda Siochana who "gave me back my life" and particularly Det Sgt Mooney and Det Garda Kavanagh "who approached this case with meticulous attention to detail that uncovered the truth and led to justice being done".

He said his ordeal had given him "a deeper insight into the mind of Christ" who had also been falsely accused.

"And since his standard of forgiveness was "70 times seven times" then surely I must be able to find it in me to forgive Paul Anderson - which I now do - and I do so whole-heartedly.

"So may I sincerely ask that this be taken into merciful consideration by the court when sentence is being passed", he said.

Judge Ryan said that the court had considered letters and testimonials as well as medical evidence on behalf of Anderson on his suicidal tendencies, including an overdose he took before his trial was due to come before the court.

The judge noted also the further submission by Defence Counsel Damien Colgan, that Anderson had no previous convictions and had a good work record.

The judge said the aggravating factor was that his false claim was planned to try and extract money from the church and the court had to mark the seriousness of the offence by imposing a four year sentence.

Mr. Colgan earlier told the judge that Anderson has found prison "harrowing and difficult" since going into custody following his conviction.

The judge refused his application for leave to appeal.