Jury discharged at trial of priest accused of sex offences

THE jury has been discharged in the case of a former parish priest in Dromore who was due to stand trial on historic sexual abuse charges.

Canon Patrick McEntee, 70, from Esker Road, Dromore is charged with sexual offences against five males who attended St Michael’s College, Enniskillen.

There are four counts of indecently assaulting one complainant on dates between 1988 and 1989 and a single count of indecently assaulting another complainant between 1980 and 1981.

In addition there are a further four counts of indecent assault against three males – two counts against one and single counts against the other two.

These matters allegedly occurred on various dates between 1978 and 1987.

Canon McEntee is denying all charges against him.

To date, no details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged offending have been disclosed.

The jury was sworn in at Dungannon Crown Court on Monday and then sent home for the day.

The trial was due to commence today (Tuesday) but before matters could get underway Judge Richard Greene advised an issue had arisen and it was therefore necessary to discharge the jury and adjourn the trial.

He remanded Canon McEntee on continuing bail of £500 and banned all contact with the complainants and any person aged under 16.

The case will be mentioned again next week.

Originally from Co Monaghan, Canon McEntee taught religious studies at St Michael’s College in Enniskillen and also sat on the Board of Governors.

He was college president between 1994 and 2000, before moving on to take up the post of parish priest at St Davog’s Church in Dromore, where he remained until his recent leave of absence.