A man who claims he was sexually abused by a priest in Co Wexford during the early 1990s has told the High Court he withdrew his initial statement of complaint against the priest following pressure from his own family.
Paul McGannon, of Ballinamuddagh, The Ballagh, Enniscorthy, is one of three men who have sued Fr John Kinsella for alleged sexual abuse.
The actions are also against the Diocese of Ferns on grounds it is vicariously liable for the alleged abuse by Fr Kinsella.
The other plaintiffs are Patrick Doyle, an Eircom technician of The Rookery, Bellefield, Enniscorthy and Mr Doyle's brother, Anthony.
Fr Kinsella has denied the allegations against him while the diocese contends the action is statute barred because of the delay in bringing the proceedings. A number of persons attached to the diocese have been subpoenaed to give evidence in the case.
Yesterday, John Peart SC, for Fr Kinsella, continued his cross-examination of Mr McGannon, who alleges that Fr Kinsella, then a curate in the parish of The Ballagh, Enniscorthy, sexually assaulted and battered him between June 1993 and July 1994, when he was a schoolboy.
Mr McGannon said he did some work for Fr Kinsella in summer 1993. Fr Kinsella would listen to him about his family problems and used this to gain his trust, he said. This was done so Fr Kinsella "could have his own free way with me", he said.
He agreed with counsel that he had withdrawn his first statement to gardaí about Fr Kinsella following pressure placed on him by his father to do so.
He denied a suggestion by Mr Peart that he had made the allegations against Fr Kinsella because he had "a grudge" against the priest over not being given the position of sacristan in the local church.
The case continues today.