Ireland Former priest sentenced for sexual abuse of a boy in Donegal
Former parish priest Eamonn Crossan, 73, pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court to nine sample charges out of 96, seven of indecent assault and two of sexual assault. The offences against a man in his 40s, who was a boy at the time, took place at several locations in County Donegal in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The victim complained to gardaí after reading about Crossan's 2021 conviction for indecent assault against another boy. On 8 May 2024 Crossan was sentenced to five years, with the final 12 months suspended, so four years in total, backdated to August 2022 when he went into custody.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced8 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Eamonn Crossan, a former parish priest, pleaded guilty to indecent assault and sexual assault against a man in his 40s, who was a boy when the offences occurred.
- Where
- The abuse took place at several locations in County Donegal, including the parish of Kincasslagh according to one article.
- When
- The offences took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Investigation
- The victim made a complaint to gardaí after reading about Crossan's 2021 conviction.
- Charges
- Crossan pleaded guilty to nine sample charges out of 96.
- The guilty pleas covered seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.
- In court
- Crossan appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- Crossan was jailed for five years after the judge reduced the sentence following mitigation.
- The final 12 months of the five-year sentence were suspended, so Crossan will serve four years in total.
- The sentence was backdated to August 2022, when Crossan went into custody.
- Other details
- Crossan had been jailed in 2021 for indecent assault against another boy; one article says he had served two years for abusing a boy in West Donegal in 1984.
- The judge described the offences as a very grave breach of trust and said they were aggravated by the victim's young age, the sustained abuse, and Crossan's position of authority.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe abuse took place at several locations in County Donegal. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe abuse took place in the late 1980s and early 1990s. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe victim made a complaint to gardaí after reading about Crossan's 2021 conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeCrossan pleaded guilty to nine sample charges out of 96. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe guilty pleas covered seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtCrossan appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCrossan was jailed for five years. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to five years after mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended, so Crossan will serve four years in total. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to August 2022, when Crossan went into custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge described the offences as a very grave breach of trust. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCrossan had been jailed in 2021 for indecent assault against another boy. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said the offences were aggravated by the victim's young age, the sustained abuse, and Crossan's position of authority. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 8 May2024Ex-parish priest jailed for five years for abuse of young boy in Donegal
Reports the sentencing of Eamonn Crossan at Letterkenny Circuit Court, including the sentence reduction, suspended portion and backdating to August 2022. The article ends before the judge's order is complete. No existing case matches.
convicted, Eamonn Crossan, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamonn Crossanvictim, 40s, male