'Predatory paedophile' priest jailed for offences against schoolboys

Canon Patrick McEntee was a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen

A priest has been jailed for seven years for eight counts of historical indecent assault against four boys.

Canon Patrick McEntee, 71, from Esker Road in Dromore, County Tyrone, was described by the judge at Dungannon Crown Court as a "predatory paedophile" who abused children in his care.

The assaults dated back to the late 1970s through to the late 1980s and involved boys aged between 11 and 17.

McEntee, who was a teacher at St Michael's College in Enniskillen, took the boys into his private quarters where some of them were made to sit on his knee or touched inappropriately.

'Complete lack of remorse'

Judge Greene told the court the priest presented himself to those he was not abusing as a caring Christian man, but was in fact assaulting children who were in his care.

Some of the boys were given sweets by McEntee after he abused them.

In June, he was convicted on eight counts of indecent assault against four boys, which took place between 1988 and 1989.

Defence lawyers for the 71-year-old had previously told the court he was a man of good character with no prior convictions.

The court heard the former religious studies teacher intended to appeal against his convictions.

He continues to deny the offences.

Sentencing McEntee, Judge Greene said the priest had shown a complete lack of remorse and that it had taken courage for his victims to come forward.

He said the abuse had left an indelible mark on the victims and had deeply affected their lives and education.

McEntee was described as presenting a medium risk of reoffending and will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Judge Greene added: "The victims have all been affected significantly by their experiences at the hands of this defendant.

"Some of the victims articulated a dislike for the school and desired to get away from it as soon as possible.

"One left to go to a different school to get away – he left school with one O-level and believes the experiences adversely affected his education.

"It must have done so for all the victims in this case."

Det Con Meehan from the Police Service of Northern Ireland described McEntee as a "child predator who used his position to take advantage of young boys who trusted him".

"He is a highly manipulative individual who was able to offend in plain sight and preyed on the innocence of his victims," the detective said in a statement.

Child abuse in Northern Ireland "cannot continue" and offending from the past needs "brought to light", Det Con Meehan added.

In a statement, McEntee's family said they are "hugely disturbed at his conviction in this case".

They added: "We are unwavering in our belief in his innocence and we are unconditionally supportive of him as he continues to deal with the adverse consequences of his recent trial."