A CATHOLIC priest was jailed in Belfast yesterday for indecently assaulting three sisters at their home in Northern Ireland more than 40 years ago, after he befriended their parents.
Fr Eugene Lewis (76) was based at the College of the Society of Missionaries of Africa, also known as the White Fathers, in Blacklion, Co Cavan, when he abused the young girls in Co Fermanagh between 1963 and 1973.
He denied 11 charges of indecent assault but a jury at Omagh Crown Court was unanimous in finding him guilty at the end of a six-week trial in May. He was sentenced to four years in prison in Belfast yesterday.
Immediately afterwards his solicitor said he would be appealing the conviction.
In a brief statement last night the Society of the Missionaries of Africa said that it was “a matter of deep regret that a member of the society has been found guilty of a number of very serious offences by a court in Northern Ireland.
“It is understood that the priest is lodging an appeal against his conviction. Pending a resolution of that matter, it would be inappropriate for the society to comment further.”
In his judgment, Mr Justice Phillip Babington said the priest was introduced to the family by a fellow cleric who was related to them. Lewis would call at the family farm from time to time, generally in the evening.
The court heard the girls’ parents welcomed the visits, not only by Lewis but by the other White Fathers and students. They felt they would be beneficial for the children because of their experiences in life, in travelling the world and their Catholic ethos.
The court was told that Lewis in particular would spend time with the girls, telling them stories. The sisters did not tell each other or anyone else of the offences at the time.
They told the court they did not feel able to do so as the White Fathers were, to an extent, revered by their parents.
The catalyst was when one sister found a photograph which brought back memories. She subsequently made a complaint to the police. Her sisters did likewise.
Lewis has consistently denied all the allegations and suggested they were motivated by conspiracy or compensation claims.
He claimed in a pre-sentence report that his visits to the family home were “primarily to visit the girls’ father, acknowledge the children, tell a story, have a cup of tea and go”. The judge yesterday referred to statements given about the good character of Lewis. He said there was no doubt the priest was held in high regard by ex-students and colleagues and those he met while working in Africa, Germany and Britain.
The judge noted, however, that the type of offending behaviour the priest engaged in usually took place in private and well away from the eyes of colleagues, family and friends.
The judge also took account of the fact that Lewis is 76, was of generally good health and had a clear criminal record.
Judge Babington said it was clear from impact statements that the girls had all been adversely affected by the abuse and found the trial, which had to take place because Lewis denied the offences, deeply upsetting and stressful.
He said the three complainants were “very, very young” when they were abused. There was a “blatant and very serious breach of trust” as the complainants were abused in their home while their parents were in the house by a person seen as a figure of authority.
Other factors were that the abuse continued for more than 10 years and some of the offending was of a very serious nature.
Mr Justice Babington also disqualified Lewis from working with children indefinitely and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.