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Judgement reserved in appeal brought by former priest and serial child abuser Tony Walsh
Summary
The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal of former priest Tony Walsh, who is contesting separate sentences of 16 years and 15 months for rape and sexual abuse of boys in the 1970s and 1980s. Walsh, known as the "Singing Priest," was convicted in 2010 of indecent assault and buggery against three schoolboys, and a 16‑year sentence was imposed. He pleaded guilty to additional counts of indecent assault in a west Dublin church and school between 1978 and 1985, and a further 15 months were added last year for abuse of two other boys. In 1997 he was convicted of abusing six victims and sentenced to ten years, later reduced to six on appeal. Counsel for Walsh argued for a reduction, citing a judge's comment and the non‑existence of the offence of buggery, while the DPP maintained that the sentences were separate and not cumulative. The court will decide at a later date.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judgement reserved in appeal brought by former priest and serial child abuser Tony Walsh. Charges or matters: two counts of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin church between November 1978 and April 1979; a further charge of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin school between January 1984 and December 1985; two counts of indecent assault on January 1 and April 4, 1979; abusing six victims and sentenced to ten years in prison. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- November 1978 Incident
- April 1979 Incident
- January 1984 Incident
- December 1985 Incident
- November 2010 Incident
- June 1, 1979 Incident
- June 30, 1983 Incident
- January 1 Incident
- April 4, 1979 Incident
- 2014-03-19 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: two counts of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin church between November 1978 and April 1979; a further charge of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin school between January 1984 and December 1985; two counts of indecent assault on January 1 and April 4, 1979; abusing six victims and sentenced to ten years in prison (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Tony Walsh, who is appealing against separate sentences of 16 years and 15 months imposed on him for the rape and sexual abuse of young boys in the nineteen seventies and eighties. Walsh, who was known as the "Singing Priest" for his role in a travelling all-priest vocal group before he was defrocked, is serving a 16-year sentence imposed on him in 2010 for the rape and abuse of three school boys.
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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