A Catholic priest has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of sexually abusing two young boys in Derry between March 1975 and August 1981.
Father Edward Kilpatrick (52), who was given leave from his post as parish priest in Lifford, Co Donegal, last October, was arraigned at Derry Crown Court yesterday.
Mr Desmond Boal, QC, defending, told Judge Tom Burgess that a substantial amount of disclosure documents were still outstanding. He also said that a vital defence witness, who has not yet been interviewed, is very ill.
The case was put back for mention to later this week, when the trial date will be fixed.
The defendant faces five charges of indecently assaulting a boy between March 1975 and December 31st, 1976. He is also charged with 11 similar offences as well as four counts of gross indecency against a second boy in Derry between August 1977 and August 1981.
The defendant was remanded on continuing bail of £500.