Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20667Sexual assault (abuse by a priest) · Co. Limerick

Bishop of Limerick meets victim of sexual abuse by priest

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick met a young man who was the victim of sexual assaults by a priest, Terry Loughran, as reported by the Limerick Leader on 16 June 2023. The article does not give the dates of the offences. Loughran was suspended from all ministry after a safeguarding complaint and was laicised. The victim went through a court hearing, and the article does not state the charge or outcome. The latest development reported is Bishop Leahy's public response after meeting the victim.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A young man was the victim of sexual assaults by a priest, Terry Loughran.
  • Bishop Leahy said his thoughts were with the young man who has suffered so much in this case.
  • Bishop Leahy described the abuse as a grave breach of trust.
Where
The case is in County Limerick, and the Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, met the victim.
When
The incident date is not given, and the report was published on 16 June 2023.
Investigation
Terry Loughran was suspended from all ministry after a safeguarding complaint was received.
Other details
  • Terry Loughran was laicised.
  • Bishop Leahy has met the man who was abused, and the article says his family and friends are also deeply affected.
  • Anyone who has been abused is urged to contact the statutory services, gardaí or Tusla.
In court
The victim had to go through a court hearing, and the article does not give its date or details.
Charges
The article does not state the charge against Terry Loughran.
Sentence
The article does not give the outcome of the court hearing.
6 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBishop Leahy's thoughts are with a young man who has suffered so much in this case. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe abuse was described as a grave breach of trust. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatTerry Loughran was suspended from all ministry after a safeguarding complaint was received and was laicised. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe victim had to go through the court hearing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherBishop Leahy has met the man who was abused. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherAnyone who has been abused is urged to contact the statutory services, gardaí or Tusla. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jun2023
    Otherlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Bishop Brendan Leahy meets with victim of sexual assaults

    Bishop Leahy's response after meeting the victim. The article refers to a court hearing but does not give the offence details, dates, charge or outcome. It names the priest, Terry Loughran, and says he was suspended and laicised.

    victimsuspect, Terry Loughran, named, irish (judged from name)Terry Loughran