Paedophile priest loses appeal on rape conviction
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A PRIEST has lost his latest appeal over his conviction for raping a teenage parishioner in a church sacristy more than 20 years ago.
The Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA) yesterday ruled Fr Daniel Doherty (49), of Derriscleigh, Carrigart, in Donegal, could not bring a case to the Supreme Court citing an important point of law of exceptional public importance in his case.
The CCA said he had not raised any such point.
Doherty was found guilty at the Central Criminal Court in 2006 of twice raping the then 13-year-old girl in the sacristy on dates in 1985 and of indecently assaulting her in the parochial house in 1985 and in his car on a date in December 1984. He received a seven-year prison sentence and was registered as a sex offender.
The court heard the victim first made her allegations formally in a letter to the Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Seamus Hegarty, in 2003, and that led to a garda investigation and prosecution.
In the 1980s, a complaint made to her teachers did not result in a proper investigation by the school and gardai were not contacted until she made formal allegations 18 years later.
Doherty, who denied all the charges, appealed against his conviction to the CCA which dismissed his case this year.
He then brought an application to have the matter referred to the Supreme Court. Doherty claimed errors were made on points of law in his case.
The CCA said yesterday his arguments did not amount to points of law of exceptional public importance.
- TIM HEALY
Irish Independent
