A MAN who has survived child abuse inflicted by Eamonn Crossan has told the former priest to “return to rot where you came from” during a victim impact statement delivered at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
Judge John Aylmer directed that a camera be repositioned in the court, yesterday morning, so that the victim, now in his 40’s, could address Crossan (73) directly.
The former priest watched proceedings via videolink from Midlands Prison in Co Laois.
Crossan had pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting and sexually assaulting a child in Co Donegal in the 1980s and 90s.
Details of nine sample charges were read out in court from 96 charges. They all relate to one individual who was aged between 10 and 15 at the time.
Indecent assault carries a maximum sentence of 10 years while the maximum sentence is five years for sexual assault.
The guilty pleas in this case relate to seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.
Describing the news as being “like a punch in the face”, the victim reported Crossan to gardaí in 2021 upon learning that the former priest had been convicted of abusing another boy, for which Crossan was sentenced to three years imprisonment.
The abuse in this case started when the victim was around 10 years old, the court was told by DPP prosecuting barrister, Fiona Crawford.
Crossan had a flu and the young boy was sent over to his residence to look after him. He stayed for three nights, the first on the floor in Crossan’s room, the second and third in Crossan’s bed.
The court heard that “the abuse became normalised” because the victim stayed with Crossan hundreds of times after that. It included kissing on the lips and touching genitals, at various locations including a church.
He told investigating gardaí, “I would spend most of the time in the fetal position thinking of happier times.”
The abuse ended in the early 90s when the boy told Crossan that he did not like what he was doing to him.
As he read his victim impact statement in court yesterday morning, the abuse survivor revealed how he has fought against anxiety, mental health issues, and even thoughts of suicide. He found it difficult to study at school and concentrate.
“I even wondered if I was worthy of being here at all but after today I will not let you steal another day of my life. If there is a God then there is almost definitely hell and that is what is waiting for you,” he added.
Defence Barrister Peter Nolan said bail had been granted but that Crossan was effectively homeless as neither his family nor the church would provide accommodation. A risk assessment by the probation service puts Crossan at a ‘medium risk’ of reoffending.
After hearing the evidence and sentencing parameters, Judge John Aylmer said, “I clearly need time to consider matters.”
Sentencing is scheduled for next Wednesday morning.
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