A SISTER of the Co Donegal parish priest cleared at Armagh Crown Court of charges of sexual abuse has expressed relief that the case is over. Ms Marie Kilpatrick described the verdict as a "great day for the church".
Father Edward Kilpatrick (53), of Murlog parish, Lifford, Co Donegal, was found not guilty of 19 charges of abuse after a 13 day trial. The allegations of gross indecency and in decent assault - made by a 30 year old civil servant and a 32 year old teacher - dated back more than 20 years. At that time Father Kilpatrick was a curate in Steelstown parish in Derry city.
Ms Kilpatrick said that the family had received support from all the parishes in which her brother had served. "There were people in the courtroom over the last number of days from all the parishes from Shantallow, from Pennyburn, from Drumm, from Lifford.
"We had a fair indication after 13 days of the trial that things were going well for him. His witnesses were absolutely marvellous.
"It's a great day for the church and for all his fellow priests as well as for his family. There are three years of his life lost, really, but good news in the end. You can pick up the pieces and continue on, and I'm sure he'll go back to his work."
Asked how she felt about the two men who had made the allegations, she said: "Well, I felt anger before yesterday, but after yesterday I think I feel sorry for them, very sorry. They have to live with it with, their conscience, now."
Speaking on the RTE radio programme Today With Pat Kenny, Ms Kilpatrick said her brother bore no illfeeling towards the two men. "I think he feels so relieved. He has been saying all along that he is innocent and he is so relieved that he has now been found that way by a jury. He just feels sorry for them and that's it."
She added: "My brother first heard the allegations in May three years ago, and my sister and I were told at that time as well, though we didn't actually tell our parents at that time. We didn't tell them until much later, until we couldn't not tell them."
Ms Kilpatrick said that she knew one of her brother's accusers very well. "My brother was extremely good to him at that time of his life", she added.