A WITNESS claimed in Armagh Crown Court yesterday that a former student priest who is accusing a parish priest of sexually abusing him had a "vivid imagination" in the way he talked.
The woman told jurors she sometimes felt the alleged victim - now a teacher - thought he was already a priest.
She was giving evidence on the seventh day of the trial of Father Edward Kilpatrick (53) of Murlough, Co Donegal. The priest is denying 19 charges of gross indecency and indecent assault of two altar boys going back to March 1975 when he was a curate in the parish.
"He seemed to follow Father Kilpatrick's mannerisms, even down to the way he walked" the witness told Mr Eugene Grant, QC, for the defence, during cross examination.
Relating visits paid to her home by the priest and the complainant, witness stated: "I knew he was interested in the priesthood and I thought Father Kilpatrick was fostering his vocation".
Witness spoke of Father Kilpatrick as a "very good straight down the middle, no nonsense priest". She had always noticed he would never put an arm around her.
She also said Father Kilpatrick had given great support to her and her family when a son was very ill for six years.