A PAEDOPHILE priest at the centre of an abuse cover-up scandal was yesterday jailed for two years after admitting sexually assaulting a six-year-old altar boy more than 70 times.

The harrowing details revealed in court come as the resignation of the Bishop of Limerick, Donal Murray, who is in Rome, will be announced this morning in the Vatican's Bolletino, the papal bulletin of official decisions.

The stepping down of Bishop Murray comes on foot of a recommendation from the head of the Congregation of Bishops, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Dr Murray's failure to handle complaints about Naughton while he was auxiliary bishop in Dublin was described as "inexcusable" by the report of the commission which investigated sexual abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.

Naughton was moved to another parish after complaints about his conduct in Wicklow in the early 1980s, and he later abused many more children in Dublin.

The priest was sentenced yesterday at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assaulting the victim.

The abuse took place over two years, between September 1, 1982, and March 31, 1984, while Naughton was a curate at Valleymount, Blessington, Co Wicklow.

However, when questioned about the abuse in 2007, Naughton said he couldn't remember the boy or the incidents. He told Detective Garda Fergal O'Connor: "I do not remember any individual incident but I admit it likely happened. I can't put a name or face on anyone. The victim mentioned in his statement what I did and I admit that."

He admitted that sometimes the children would ask him to stop the abuse and said: "At times, I may have stopped; at other times, I may have continued." He also apologised to "any altar boy I abused".

Devastating

In determining the sentence, Mr Justice Michael O'Shea acknowledged Naughton's age and his diminishing health. Naughton suffers from prostate problems, osteoporosis, cholesterol and the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease.

However, the judge also pointed to the devastating effect the abuse has had on the victim, who had served as an altar boy for 8.30am Mass at Naughton's church.

Mr Justice O'Shea said the boy opted out of "normal activities associated with young boys" and could not form lasting friendships.

He lost his confidence, became paranoid and was confused about his sexuality.

He noted that the boy's father confronted the parish priest after another child told him Naughton was "very fond" of his son.

The victim's father told Naughton that if the priest had not left the parish within three weeks, he would go to the gardai.

Naughton was moved less than one week later to Donnycarney in Dublin, where he continued to abuse children. Justice O'Shea noted that Naughton was of the "highest standing in society, had the respect of society and had the confidence of society".

"Not only was the abuse intentional but it was premeditated," he said. "It is shocking in the extreme where it took place. He abused him (in the sacristy) because it was an extremely easy place to abuse him."

He said Naughton "plotted" to abuse the boy and "stalked" him after school.

"The abuse was systematic, continuous and persistent. This was shocking and horrific abuse carried out by Fr Naughton on the victim."

Taking into account the fact that Naughton had pleaded guilty, he ordered him to enter into a bond of €200 to keep the peace for three years after his release from prison.

However, Justice O'Shea said his crimes were at the upper end of the scale and he sentenced him to three years for each of the five charges. He suspended the final 12 months and ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Naughton's victim was in court but declined to comment.

AT an initial glance, he looked much like he did then. Thin, a receding hairline and sharp blue sunken eyes. But today, we know the heinous abuse he and the Catholic hierarchy kept secret.
Today, we know he is a paedophile who ruined the lives of scores of children and that his actions pushed some of those children to later attempt suicide.

Walking into court with the aid of a cane, he was asked whether he had anything to say to his victims. "No, nothing," he replied.

Shuffling into one of the wooden benches, he waited patiently for Mr Justice Michael O'Shea to begin proceedings.

The only time he moved was when he took a comb from his pocket. Then, standing up, he clutched the back of the seat in front for support and, with a shaky hand, he spent a few moments combing his snow-white hair.

The shaking we later found out is because he suffering from the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Incontinence, prostate and cholesterol problems and osteoporosis are also among the health problems the 78-year-old suffers from.

He stood for the five minutes during which the judge passed his sentence -- and only spoke to say 'I do' when asked if he understood the instruction to pay a bond and keep the peace upon his release from prison. But there was no reaction to the two-year sentence -- and he dutifully followed the gardai to the court's cells.

No reaction, no remorse.

But others were not happy. Mervyn Rundle, who secured a record settlement from the Church after being abused by Naughton, said he hoped the paedophile was never released.


Lenient

He also hit out at what he believed was a lenient sentence, pointing out that Naughton received a two-and-a-half year sentence on appeal for abusing Mr Rundle.

"No sentence is long enough," he said.

He also criticised Bishop Donal Murray, whose resignation will be announced today. "I'd like the authorities to put him through the proper criminal proceedings," Mr Rundle said last night.

Michael O'Brien, of Right to Peace, a victim support group, said Naughton should have been "locked up for life".

And Andrew Madden, who was abused by Fr Ivan Payne, repeated his call for the bishops named alongside Bishop Murray in the report -- Bishops Moriarty, Drennan, Walsh and Field -- to resign.

"They joined with other bishops to issue a statement on December 10, 2009, to say that they are shamed by the extent to which child sexual abuse was covered up in the Archdiocese of Dublin, yet individually they claim to have done nothing wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, current Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, said: "Tom Naughton was an abuser who damaged the lives of many innocent young people.

I hope those involved in the proceedings will find some solace and justice in his having to serve a jail sentence for his crimes."