Belfast priest jailed for indecent assault, abuse of three sisters.

Cork Student News

03 September 2010

A Catholic priest was sentenced to jail in Belfast yesterday for abuse against three sisters which was committed over 40 years ago.

Fr Eugene Lewis (76) was based at the College of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, also known as the White Fathers, in Blacklion, Co Cavan, when he abused the young girls in Co Fermanagh between 1963 and 1973.

The priest denied 11 charges of indecent assault but a jury at Omagh Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of the sexual assaults. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

The Society of the Missionaries of Africa, to whom the priest belonged, last night said in a statement that it was “a matter of deep regret that a member of the society has been found guilty of a number of very serious offences by a court in Northern Ireland.

“It is understood that the priest is lodging an appeal against his conviction. Pending a resolution of that matter, it would be inappropriate for the society to comment further.”

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