Ireland Former priest's conviction for sexual assaults on schoolboy quashed, to be retried
Barry Fergal Jennings (57), a former priest and Irish Times columnist, was convicted by unanimous jury decision in March 2022 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of six counts of sexual assault of a schoolboy at locations in Dublin between September 1998 and December 1999, and was sentenced to four years in prison. The complainant had made statements to gardaí in December 2017. On 19 May 2023 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction because the trial judge did not direct the jury on the limited use of complaint evidence, and ordered a retrial. On 1 December 2023 the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi on all six counts, so no convictions remain against Mr Jennings.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A former priest and Irish Times columnist was convicted of sexual assaults on a schoolboy in the late 1990s.
- Where
- The offences were alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin, including the boy's home and the school.
- When
- The offences were alleged to have occurred between September 1998 and December 1999.
- Investigation
- In December 2017 the complainant made statements to gardaí alleging the abuse.
- Charges
- He was convicted by unanimous jury decision in March 2022 of six counts of sexual assault of the boy.
- In court
- The Court of Appeal found the trial judge did not direct the jury on the limited use of complaint evidence.
- The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction because of an oversight or error of substance giving rise to the apprehension of real injustice, and ordered a retrial.
- The retrial is to take place before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- He had been sentenced to four years in prison for the sexual assaults.
- Other details
- He denied the charges.
- He was a chaplain at a community school in Dublin at the time of the alleged offences.
- On 1 December 2023 the DPP entered a nolle prosequi on all six counts, so there are no convictions against him.
27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA former priest and Irish Times columnist had his conviction quashed and is to be retried. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA former priest and Irish Times columnist was sentenced to four years in prison for sexual assaults on a schoolboy. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assaults took place at locations in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe offences were alleged to have taken place at locations in Dublin. (leitrimobserver.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenHe was convicted by unanimous jury decision in March 2022 of six counts of sexual assault of the boy. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences were alleged to have occurred between September 1998 and December 1999. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences were alleged to have taken place between September 1998 and December 1999. (leitrimobserver.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn December 2017 the complainant made statements to gardaí alleging the abuse. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe complainant made statements to gardaí alleging the abuse in December 2017. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- investigationThe complainant made statements to gardaí in December 2017 alleging the abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted by unanimous jury decision in March of last year of six counts of sexual assault. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the trial judge did not give the jury a direction on the limited use of complaint evidence. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal quashed the conviction for an oversight or error of substance giving rise to the apprehension of real injustice. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMr Jennings is to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after the conviction was quashed. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal quashed Jennings's conviction and ordered a retrial. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtMs Justice Kennedy quashed the conviction, and Jennings is to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtThe conviction was quashed because of an oversight or error of substance. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtJennings had been convicted by unanimous jury decision of six counts of sexual assault of the boy. (leitrimobserver.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the trial judge failed to direct the jury on the limited use of complaint evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy quashed the conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJennings is to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday of next week. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe had been sentenced to four years in prison for sexual assaults on a schoolboy. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJennings was sentenced to four years in prison. (leitrimobserver.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had denied the charges. (thejournal.ie)
- otherOn 1 December 2023 the DPP entered a nolle prosequi on all six counts, so there are no convictions against Mr Jennings. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJennings denied the charges. (leitrimobserver.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherJennings was a chaplain at a community school in Dublin at the time of the alleged offences. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 May2023Former priest has conviction for sexual assaults on schoolboy quashed
Reports the Court of Appeal quashing Jennings's conviction after an appeal. He is to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court again and be retried. Adds the grounds for quashing and background on the original trial.
accused, Barry Fergal Jennings, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Fergal Jenningsvictim, male - 19 May2023Former priest and journalist jailed for sex assaults on schoolboy has conviction quashed by Court of Appeal
Adds that the Court of Appeal quashed the March 2022 conviction on the ground that the trial judge did not instruct the jury on the limited use of complaint evidence, and that Jennings is to be retried. It also gives the court's reasoning and the defence's account of his circumstances.
victim, maleaccused, Barry Fergal Jennings, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Fergal Jennings - 19 May2023Man jailed for sexual assaults has conviction quashed
Adds the Court of Appeal quashing the conviction on the basis of a jury direction error, the retrial order, the sentence imposed at the original trial, and an update stating that the DPP entered a nolle prosequi on all six counts on 1 December 2023 with no convictions remaining.
victim, maleconvicted, Barry Fergal Jennings, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Fergal Jennings