Courtney McGrailPope Francis has dismissed the former parish priest of Bangor, Co. Down from the clerical state following his conviction for sex abuse charges.
James Donaghy was convicted in December 2011 of 23 sex abuse charges against three individuals and sentenced to 10 years in jail in 2012. In 2013 he was sentenced to another two years to run concurrently for a further five charges.
He stepped down from his duties in 2004 and has not worked as a priest since. He further resigned his office of parish priest in Bangor in 2009.
In a statement Bishop Noel Treanor extended his “deepest sorrow” and apologised “to survivors who suffered such pain at the hands of someone in whom they had placed their trust”.