A former Christian Brother has had his one-year sex assault sentence deferred after he was granted leave to appeal by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Paul Farrell (53), of Kinvara Road, Dublin, was sentenced earlier this month after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury convicted him of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old boy at an institution in Galway 20 years ago. Farrell had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecent assault on dates between November 7th, 1980 and March 31st, 1982 when he worked as deputy director of St Joseph's, in Salthill, Co Galway.
Judge Patrick McCartan refused leave to appeal when he passed sentence on July 23rd last but allowed Farrell to remain on continuing bail while his legal advisers applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
He said then he did so in the interest of justice because otherwise, due to the lengthy appeals list, Farrell would have served his sentence before his appeal could be dealt with.
He was told the Court of Criminal Appeal had now granted Farrell leave to appeal and he deferred the issuing of the warrant for his committal to prison pending the outcome.