JAMES DONAGHY FROM LISBURN SENTENCED IN BELFAST FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AT CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lisburn and the wider Belfast area, priest James Donaghy has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison for the sexual abuse of a young boy, on top of his existing ten-year sentence for other sex crimes. The offences took place between January and May of 1989, when Donaghy was serving as a priest in the west Belfast parish of Corpus Christi, Ballymurphy.

Donaghy, aged 55 and originally from Lady Wallace Drive in Lisburn, pleaded guilty in June to four counts of indecent assault and one count of common assault against the boy. Despite the gravity of these charges, Belfast Crown Court was informed that Donaghy would not serve any extra time beyond his current sentence, as the judge decided to run the sentences concurrently. Judge Kinney explained that had these offences been addressed at the time of his original sentencing, they would have been considered as part of the total punishment.

During the hearing, Judge Kinney emphasized that no fault could be attributed to the victim for the delay in bringing the case to court. He highlighted the devastating impact of sexual abuse on victims, noting that many are not ready to speak out immediately. The court heard that Donaghy, while acting as a priest, manipulated the young boy by falsely promising to help him get his deceased grandfather into heaven, a tactic that compounded the betrayal of trust.

Judge Kinney acknowledged Donaghy’s guilty pleas but pointed out that the priest claimed to have no memory of the abuse, indicating possible denial. The judge also described Donaghy as a dangerous offender, citing the significant risk he poses to the public. The abuse, characterized as callous and abusive, left a lasting scar on the victim, with the judge stressing that such breaches of trust, especially involving a vulnerable child, are particularly pernicious.

Despite the severity of his actions, the court noted some signs of remorse from Donaghy. The judge expressed hope that his guilty pleas might help the victim find some closure. As part of his sentence, Donaghy was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults. The judge also remarked that if Donaghy had contested the charges, he could have faced a four-year prison term.

It is important to note that Donaghy is already serving a ten-year sentence at Magilligan Prison, following a comprehensive trial in February 2013. During that trial, he was convicted of 23 sex offences committed over a span of 17 years against three victims, all of whom were teenagers when the abuse began. These offences included indecent assaults, acts of gross indecency with two victims, and attempted buggery with a third.

The victims, including Father Patrick McCafferty, James Doherty, and another man whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, provided harrowing testimonies describing how Donaghy, described by a judge as a “ruthless” and “controlling” individual, used his charm and authority to manipulate and abuse them. Father McCafferty’s ordeal started in the early 1980s when he was a trainee priest and continued until 1987. The other two victims, young choir boys at the churches where Donaghy served as a parish priest, also suffered at his hands.

Judge Patrick Lynch QC, who sentenced Donaghy in February 2013, condemned him as a “sexual predator” who exploited his position of trust. The judge described Donaghy as a “ruthless individual” who used his charm, humor, and domineering personality to satisfy his predatory urges, leaving his victims with deep emotional scars and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Earlier, in February 2012, Donaghy was jailed for ten years after a jury found him guilty of multiple sex offences. The judge at that time emphasized the damage done not only to the victims but also to the reputation of the church, which he said was tarnished by such acts, despite the fact that most clergy serve with integrity. Donaghy’s case has been a stark reminder of the dangers of abuse within religious institutions and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.