Former priest had ‘simulated sex’ with girl

A FORMER priest who ‘simulated sex’ with a young girl in his car in 1976 has been jailed for nine months.

In jailing 83-year-old Con Cunningham yesterday, Judge John Aylmer said he did not accept the offences were at the ‘lower end of the scale’.

The judge said that while no penetration had taken place, the expriest, of Glen Road, Carrick, Co. Donegal, had simulated oral sex and had pushed the child’s face into his crotch until he had satisfied himself. He left the child with bruising to her genital area from ‘similar simulated sex’, Donegal Town Circuit Court heard.

The judge said the defendant had climbed on top of the girl and that a ‘significant level of both force and violence’ was used.

Judge Aylmer imposed a sentence of 15 months but suspended the final six months. Cunningham was bound to be of good behaviour and keep the peace on his own bond of €100 for a year.