A Catholic priest has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting an altar boy at a County Down church. Father Gerard Anthony Green, whose address was given as Ballinamoney Road in Lurgan, appeared at Newry Crown Court on Tuesday to face seven charges of indecent assault and gross indecency.

'Our secret'

The alleged victim, who is now aged 36, and lives in England has been giving evidence and is to be cross-examined later on Tuesday. The jury was told that the offences took place in the sacristy of a church after mass and in two parochial houses. It was alleged the assaults came to an end after the youth was caught stealing money from another priest at the parochial house, and did not go back there.

The  victim told the court that he let the accused do what he did because he was a priest and he did not think he was doing anything wrong. The court heard that the priest allegedly told his victim that he "loved him like a son and that it would be their secret". 

Public apology:

An influential Irish Roman Catholic religious order involved in teaching generations of youngsters has issued an unprecedented high-profile public apology for sexual and other abuse inflicted over years in its institutions.

The Irish government has launched an inquiry into allegations of abuse at so-called industrial schools, where children were detained if their parents were deemed too poor to look after them, or if they stole or played truant. The 52 schools, run by Catholic religious orders and backed by the government, closed in the 1970s. Campaigners say the priests and nuns subjected most of the children in their care to physical or sexual attacks.

Following these and other allegations made during the 1990s, the Christian Brothers, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Sisters of Mercy have issued public apologies for abuse inflicted over the years in their institutions.