Ex-priest in court accused of sex abuse 30 years ago

A FORMER priest has been accused of historical sex abuse.

Standing in the dock of Downpatrick Magistrates Court, 68-year-old Daniel John Curran confirmed his name and that he was aware of the charge against him.

Curran, from Bryansford Avenue in Newcastle, is accused of indecently assaulting a male on a date unknown between August 16, 1989 and August 18, 1991.

None of the evidence surrounding the almost 30-year-old charges was opened in court in the short Preliminary Enquiry (PE), the legal step necessary to move a case to the higher Crown Court.

But a prosecuting lawyer submitted that the Crown papers and witness statements formed the basis of a prima facie case against the former Catholic priest.

The court clerk told Curran that he had the right to comment on the charge, give evidence to the PE or call witnesses on his behalf, but that anyone giving evidence was liable to cross examination.

Curran declined, saying “no”, to each of the questions.

Freeing the former priest on his own bail of £500, District Judge Amanda Brady returned the case to Downpatrick Crown Court for trial but said the arraignment would be on a date to be fixed.

Curran’s defence solicitor asked for legal aid to be extended to allow a senior QC to be instructed.

However, Judge Brady told him: “If you want two counsel, you can apply to the Crown Court judge.” Former priest Daniel Curran pictured outside Downpatrick Court yesterday where he was accused of indecently assaulting a male between 1989 and 1991

Ordinarily, defendants are taken into custody until their bail papers are ready to sign but following a defence application, the judge said Curran “doesn’t have to go into custody” but could wait with his solicitor to sign his bail.