A former missionary priest who was jailed for six years for sexually abusing young boys, and who has previous convictions for similar crimes, has had the balance of his sentence suspended. He was released on bail by Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court after serving half of the term imposed.
Patrick Maguire, now 67, who had an address at Dalgan Park, Navan, Co Meath, was sentenced at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court in March 2000 for indecently assaulting five young boys at various locations in Dublin, Louth and Sligo. In one case a mother had found him in bed with her two sons.
In March last Judge Groarke released him after a report satisfied him that Maguire no longer appears to pose the risk he had when sentenced.
At this sitting of the court Judge Groarke said he was now suspending the balance of the sentence on a number of conditions, including that Maguire is bound to the peace for five years and he is under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service for five years.
He is not allowed to be unsupervised with children.