Ireland Case No. 20652Sexual assault · Co. Limerick · 15 May 1998
Former Limerick priest sentenced for sexually assaulting teenage boy
Terence (Terry) Loughran, 63, a native of Limerick city and a former priest, was accused of sexually assaulting a boy aged 14 to 17 between May 1998 and January 2001, with the first incident on 15 May 1998, in parish houses, at St Patrick's College in Maynooth, on trips abroad and in hotel rooms after concerts. Gardaí received a complaint from the Limerick diocesan office in July 2017, and Loughran was arrested in 2019 and initially denied the charges. In 2020 he received a three-year sentence for offences against a different victim. A trial began in 2022 with a not guilty plea, but he changed his plea to guilty after the victim gave evidence, and at Limerick Circuit Court in June 2023 he was sentenced to prison terms totalling four and a half years.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Jun
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Terence (Terry) Loughran, 63, a former priest, pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault on a boy.
- Where
- The assaults took place in parish houses in Croom and Kilfinane, at St Patrick's College in Maynooth, on trips abroad, and in hotel rooms after concerts.
- When
- The offences occurred between May 1998 and January 2001, and the first incident took place on 15 May 1998.
- The victim was aged between 14 and 17 at the time, while Loughran was in his late 30s.
- Investigation
- Gardaí received a notification from the Limerick diocesan office of historic sex abuse on 31 July 2017 after a complaint by the victim.
- Loughran was arrested in 2019 and denied the charges at that stage.
- Other details
- Loughran was defrocked in 2013.
- In 2020 a jury convicted Loughran of sexual assaults and gross indecency against a different victim, and he received a three-year sentence.
- The court heard aggravating factors including Loughran's position of trust and authority as a priest.
- Defence counsel said Loughran unequivocally accepted his guilt, and Loughran said he was sorry.
- In court
- A trial began in 2022 with Loughran pleading not guilty.
- Loughran changed his plea to guilty after the victim gave evidence but before he was cross-examined.
- The case was heard at Limerick Circuit Court, where Judge Tom O'Donnell presided over sentencing.
- Sentence
- Prison sentences totalling four and a half years were imposed.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatTerence (Terry) Loughran pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault on a boy. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe assaults took place in parish houses, at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, on trips abroad, and in hotel rooms after concerts. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place in parish houses, in St Patrick’s College in Maynooth, on trips abroad, and in hotel rooms after concerts. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe victim was aged between 14 and 17 at the time, while Loughran was in his late 30s. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe first incident described took place on 15 May 1998, when the victim was 14. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí received a notification from the Limerick diocesan office of historic sex abuse on July 31, 2017, following a complaint by the victim. (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationGardaí received a notification from the Limerick diocesan office of historic sex abuse after a complaint by the victim. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeLoughran pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault on the boy between May 1998 and January 2001. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeLoughran denied the charges after he was arrested in 2019. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtA trial began the previous year with Loughran pleading not guilty. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtLoughran changed his plea to guilty after the victim gave evidence but before he was cross-examined. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Tom O'Donnell presided over sentencing on the Friday before the report. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Limerick Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentencePrison sentences totalling four and a half years were imposed. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherLoughran had been defrocked in 2013 and denied the charges after his arrest in 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherLoughran had received a three-year sentence in 2020 for sexual assaults and gross indecency on a different victim. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe court heard aggravating factors including Loughran's position of trust and authority as a priest. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherLoughran accepted his guilt and said he was sorry. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherLoughran had been defrocked in 2013. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherLoughran had received a three year sentence in 2020 after a jury convicted him of sexual assaults and gross indecency on a different victim. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Loughran unequivocally accepted his guilt. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 17 Jun2023Singing priest, sexual predator: Ex Limerick priest admits sexually assaulting teenage boy for years
Sentencing report. Adds the court, the guilty plea, the four and a half year total sentence, and details of the offences and the investigation. No existing case in the list matches.
convicted, Terence (Terry) Loughran, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Terence (Terry) Loughranvictim, 14 to 17 at the time of the offences, male - 16 Jun2023Singing priest, sexual predator: Ex Limerick priest admits sexually assaulting teenage boy for years
Adds the guilty plea to seven counts, the sentence of four and a half years, the trial history, the complaint and investigation timeline, the court details, and the accused's earlier conviction for offences against a different victim.
victim, 14 to 17 at the time of the offences, maleconvicted, Terence (Terry) Loughran, 63, male, named, irish (judged from name)Terence (Terry) Loughran