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| Catholic priest accused of sexual assault reveals that he is married | Catholic priest accused of sexual assault reveals that he is married |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl told a court on Thursday that he is secretly married. | A Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl told a court on Thursday that he is secretly married. |
| William Finnegan, 59, who is currently standing trial, revealed to the jury – and at the same time to his diocese – that, despite having taken a vow of celibacy, he married more than a decade ago and kept it a secret from the church and his parishioners. | William Finnegan, 59, who is currently standing trial, revealed to the jury – and at the same time to his diocese – that, despite having taken a vow of celibacy, he married more than a decade ago and kept it a secret from the church and his parishioners. |
| Finnegan was parish priest at St Clare's RC Church in Bradford when the alleged sexual assault happened last Easter. | Finnegan was parish priest at St Clare's RC Church in Bradford when the alleged sexual assault happened last Easter. |
| His barrister, Jeremy Hill-Baker, told the jury at Bradford crown court: "You may be thinking that he is only human, that Father Bill, as a Catholic priest, has taken a vow of celibacy, condemning himself to a single and lonely life filled with perhaps an underlying sexual frustration because … it is not a natural state for a human to be in." | His barrister, Jeremy Hill-Baker, told the jury at Bradford crown court: "You may be thinking that he is only human, that Father Bill, as a Catholic priest, has taken a vow of celibacy, condemning himself to a single and lonely life filled with perhaps an underlying sexual frustration because … it is not a natural state for a human to be in." |
| "It would be understandable for you to be thinking, 'Well, perhaps it just got the best of him with that 17-year-old'." But he told them they would hear evidence from Finnegan and his wife, Beverley Dawson. He added: "No, you didn't mishear me. His wife. He and Beverley Dawson secretly married abroad in September 1999. | "It would be understandable for you to be thinking, 'Well, perhaps it just got the best of him with that 17-year-old'." But he told them they would hear evidence from Finnegan and his wife, Beverley Dawson. He added: "No, you didn't mishear me. His wife. He and Beverley Dawson secretly married abroad in September 1999. |
| "So deeply in love was he that he was prepared to ignore the Catholic church's ban on marriage, a secret which has been kept from almost everyone until now. Whatever the outcome of this case, his ministry as a Catholic priest is well and truly over." | "So deeply in love was he that he was prepared to ignore the Catholic church's ban on marriage, a secret which has been kept from almost everyone until now. Whatever the outcome of this case, his ministry as a Catholic priest is well and truly over." |
| The court heard that Finnegan met Dawson, a mother of two, when he was a priest in Castleford, West Yorkshire, and she was one of his parishioners. | The court heard that Finnegan met Dawson, a mother of two, when he was a priest in Castleford, West Yorkshire, and she was one of his parishioners. |
| After her previous marriage broke down, they fell in love and travelled to Cyprus to wed in a civil ceremony and only disclosed their marriage to close friends and family. Hill-Baker said: "Far from being celibate, they enjoyed a full and active sex life." | After her previous marriage broke down, they fell in love and travelled to Cyprus to wed in a civil ceremony and only disclosed their marriage to close friends and family. Hill-Baker said: "Far from being celibate, they enjoyed a full and active sex life." |
| The recorder, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told Finnegan before he gave his evidence: "Your public announcement of this today is news to everyone?" Finnegan said: "It is, and I will be dealt with." Thomas asked him if he had been suspended since the allegation of sexual assault arose. Finnegan said: "I have been suspended and simply ignored." | The recorder, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told Finnegan before he gave his evidence: "Your public announcement of this today is news to everyone?" Finnegan said: "It is, and I will be dealt with." Thomas asked him if he had been suspended since the allegation of sexual assault arose. Finnegan said: "I have been suspended and simply ignored." |
| He said his marriage would not be recognised by the Catholic church because he was a priest. Thomas said: "Did you think it would compromise your position as a priest, to carry out communion and so on and so forth, or wasn't that an issue?" Finnegan said: "It wasn't an issue." | He said his marriage would not be recognised by the Catholic church because he was a priest. Thomas said: "Did you think it would compromise your position as a priest, to carry out communion and so on and so forth, or wasn't that an issue?" Finnegan said: "It wasn't an issue." |
| Finnegan, of Castleford, denies sexually assaulting the teenager on Easter Sunday last year by touching her bottom and forcefully kissing her. | Finnegan, of Castleford, denies sexually assaulting the teenager on Easter Sunday last year by touching her bottom and forcefully kissing her. |
| The trial continues.He told the jury it was the girl who had kissed him. He said: "She tiptoed towards me, placed her hands on my waist and kissed me on the lips." Finnegan said he pushed the girl away and Hill-Baker asked if he had then said anything to her. He said: "I said that's not to happen. I'm afraid I used quite a lot of force." | The trial continues.He told the jury it was the girl who had kissed him. He said: "She tiptoed towards me, placed her hands on my waist and kissed me on the lips." Finnegan said he pushed the girl away and Hill-Baker asked if he had then said anything to her. He said: "I said that's not to happen. I'm afraid I used quite a lot of force." |
| Richard Walters, prosecuting, told him: "Rather than tell us the truth, you would rather brand that young girl as a liar." | Richard Walters, prosecuting, told him: "Rather than tell us the truth, you would rather brand that young girl as a liar." |
| Giving evidence, Dawson said she and her husband had never permanently lived together but saw each other regularly, had a sexual relationship and went on holidays together. She said each week after he finished his church service on Sunday he would visit her, then go back to work on Tuesday. She said on the day in question, Finnegan had phoned her and told her he had been kissed by the teenage girl. "He was shocked," she said. | Giving evidence, Dawson said she and her husband had never permanently lived together but saw each other regularly, had a sexual relationship and went on holidays together. She said each week after he finished his church service on Sunday he would visit her, then go back to work on Tuesday. She said on the day in question, Finnegan had phoned her and told her he had been kissed by the teenage girl. "He was shocked," she said. |
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