A Catholic priest is to stand trial at Belfast Crown Court charged with a serious of sex offences involving children. Father Joseph Michael Steele (56), of the Holy Ghost Order, faces 24 charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency.
The offences are alleged to have taken place in Belfast between 1969 and 1975 when Father Steele was a curate in St Teresa's parish on the Glen Road, west Belfast, and at St Colmcille's in Ballyhackamore in east Belfast. Two boys and three girls named in the charges were aged between nine and 15 at the time.
Father Steele's address was given as Kimmage Manor, Dublin, when he appeared yesterday at Belfast Magistrates court. His solicitor told the court he had given the authorities a Northern Ireland address which satisfied the RUC. He was returned for trial on continuing bail of £250.