A woman has withdrawn a charge of assault against a retired priest after he offered to pay her an undisclosed sum of money in compensation.
Mr Derek Kenneally, barrister for the priest, said it was "a difficult and complicated case that was hurtful and painful for all the parties involved".
Father Turlough Connolly (78), of Parochial House, Dillonstown, Dunleer, had been charged with assault on Mrs Geraldine O'Neill at Dillonstown on March 23rd, 1998, contrary to Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.
The case was adjourned several times, but yesterday Mr Kenneally told Dunleer District Court that the principal parties had reached an agreement and that a substantial sum in compensation was to be paid to Mrs O'Neill and she would like the matter to end there. Insp Gerry O'Brien said the case was before the court as a result of a complaint by Mrs O'Neill and called her to give evidence. Mrs O'Neill agreed with the inspector that she made a statement of complaint to gardai in Dundalk on March 30th last year about an incident at Dillonstown, Dunleer, on March 23rd.
However, she said that she has been offered compensation by Father Connolly for the assault on her provided she withdraw the complaint, and she was prepared to do that subject to the approval of Judge Flann Brennan.
She told Judge Brennan there was no duress on her to withdraw the complaint. He then dismissed the matter, saying there was no evidence and he was satisfied she was not subject to any duress and had been advised by her solicitor.
Afterwards, Mrs O'Neill said she was not allowed to reveal part of the settlement because of confidentiality clauses. However, she said the incident had affected her whole life. "I will never be able to walk away from it or forget it, but I feel vindicated after having had a very harrowing 18 months.
"The settlement was finalised at the last minute but could have been settled long ago. He is paying compensation. It is an admission on his part that wrong was done to me."
There was no answer at Dillonstown Parochial House yesterday afternoon, but several people who saw members of the press, including an RTE cameraman, outside told them to go away. One man demanded a copy of the cameraman's tape. When Father Connolly was going into the court yesterday morning some supporters shouted "Good luck" to him.