A Dublin priest has been jailed for four years for sexually abusing three sisters in their Co Ferrmanagh home almost 50 years ago.
Fr Eugene Lewis (76), was found guilty by a jury at Omagh Crown Court in May of 11 counts of indecently assaulting the three Co Fermanagh sisters separately and on differing dates between August 1963 and September 1973.
Lewis, the former provincial superior of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, based in Dublin, had denied the charges.
The former provincial superior of the White Fathers, who are based at Cypress Grove House, Templeogue, Dublin, denied the charges.
In a statement issued through his solicitor Joe McVeigh outside Belfast’s Laganside Courthouse today, the priest claimed that his trial was a “miscarriage of justice”.
During the six-week trial, the jury was told of indecent assaults on the three sisters.
Prosecuting QC Ken McMahon said the priest had wormed his way into the family through a fellow, but innocent, cleric.
Mr McMahon had told the jury that although welcomed into their home at any time, Lewis often chose to call at bedtime or on Saturday bath night. One victim said Lewis abused her while telling her and her sisters bedtime stories in their darkened bedroom.
She finally went to the PSNI and Garda two years ago.