A priest facing trial on foot of 29 sexual abuse charges was granted bail by the High Court yesterday. The court was told a Circuit Court order directing that the priest be medically assessed at the Central Mental Hospital had not been met because of a trade union dispute at the hospital.
Mr Justice Cyril Kelly granted bail on the priest's undertaking that he will attend medical examinations organised on behalf of the State. He also directed the priest, who is in his 40s, to sign on once weekly at a specified Garda station.
The priest's trial before Wexford Circuit Court was due to begin on March 1st.
Later, however, in the absence of the jury, legal argument was heard concerning his fitness to stand trial and Judge Joseph Mathews directed that he be remanded for treatment.
On March 3rd, when the jury members returned to court, the judge told them that in the course of legal argument it had become apparent from submissions that the priest was unwell.
Mr Justice Kelly was told yesterday that, because of a dispute at the Central Mental Hospital, the priest had not been admitted and was remanded in custody to prison.
He had been medically examined on just one occasion there.
Counsel for the priest said he had been on bail for most of the period since the charges were first preferred against him and had always honoured his bail. He was willing to undergo any medical assessment organised by the State.
Mr Justice Kelly said this was a most unusual situation in which the State was not objecting to bail on any of the usual grounds. He said a psychiatric examination was required and the priest had indicated he would attend.
In the circumstances, and subject to the priest's undertaking that he would attend all medical examinations organised to determine the issue of his fitness to plead, he should be granted bail, the judge said. He freed the priest on bail on his own surety of £5,000 and an independent surety in the same amount. He also directed him to reside at a particular address.