Former priest facing 96 historic sex charges pleads guilty

A former parish priest from Donegal who was charged with almost 100 historic sexual offences against a male victim has pleaded guilty.

Former cleric Eamonn Crossan appeared before Donegal Circuit Court this week, where he faced 96 counts of indecent assault and sexual assault.

The 72-year-old Crossan pleaded guilty to nine sample charges out of the 96. The court heard that these were ‘representative counts’ and guilty pleas were tendered on a full facts basis.

This was accepted by Barrister for the State, Mr Donal Keane BL

The victim in the case was present in court alongside family members as Crossan was formally arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.

It had been anticipated that a jury would be required for the case. However, following a lengthy discussion with his legal team, Crossan tendered guilty pleas to the nine sample charges.

Crossan is represented by Mr Colm Smyth SC and Mr Peter Nolan BL, instructed by solicitor Mr Philip Maher. Judge Aylmer said the guilty pleas ‘saved a jury a lot of hard work this week’.

Crossan is currently in custody at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, which was given as his current address.

Crossan spoke to plead guilty to the charges when they were put to him by the court clerk. At one stage, Crossan attempted to address Judge Aylmer regarding one of the counts, but was instructed to cease by his counsel.

Crossan pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault, contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990. These relate to separate unknown dates between April-July 1991 and July-October 1992 at separate name locations in County Donegal.

He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the male by touching his genitals and to another charge of sexually assaulting the male by cuddling him and kissing him on the lips.

Crossan also pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault contrary to common law relating to incidents where he indecently assaulted the male by cuddling him and kissing him on the lips on dates in 1987, 1988 and 1990.

Crossan pleaded guilty to three other charges of indecent assault contrary to common law. On each of these counts, he was charged that, at an address in County Donegal on unknown dates between March 1987 and March 1990, he did indecently assault a male by touching his genitals.

He was charged with another count of indecent assault contrary to common law at another address in County Donegal on a date unknown between July 1990 and December 1990. On this count, he is charged that he did indecently assault a male by touching his genitals.

Dressed in a cream coat and black trousers, Crossan was brought to court by prison officers.

Mr Smyth asked for the preparation of an updated Probation report in respect of his client and also asked that a Governor’s report and education report be sought from Midlands Prison.

Judge Aylmer agreed and asked that the updated Probation report include an assessment as to Crossan’s suitability for community service.

Crossan was remanded in custody until the next sitting of Donegal Circuit Court in March when he will be sentenced.

In 2021, Crossan was jailed for three years, with the final 12 months suspended, when he pleaded guilty to single charge of indecent assault against another boy at the parochial house in Kincasslagh on a date unknown between 1984 and 1985. At that time, he was placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Crossan was a priest in the Raphoe Diocese from 1976, but when a complaint was made to the Church in 1998 he was immediately laicised.