A Catholic priest, who admitted sexually assaulting two girls, has been jailed for nine months. Father Paul McGennis (65), of Tonlagee Road, Edenmore, Dublin, appealed in the Circuit Court against the severity of an 18-month sentence imposed in the District Court.
Reducing sentence to nine months, Judge Dominic Lynch said the charges related to incidents which took place between 1977 and 1979.
McGennis had been in a position in life where he was looked up to by his victims who were vulnerable at that stage of their lives. He said evidence had been given of an apology to both parties involved and of an offer of financial compensation.
He had also heard that the likelihood of McGennis reoffending was low.
McGennis had received two consecutive nine-month sentences in the District Court after having pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault at the parochial house in a Co Wicklow village.
Judge Lynch said by pleading guilty, McGennis had saved the two witnesses, now grown women, from the ordeal of having to give evidence in a trial.