The Bishop of Clogher, Dr Joseph Duffy, has described as "a very sad and tragic case" that of Fr Jeremiah McGrath who was sentenced in Britain last Thursday to five years in prison in connection with financing the grooming of a young girl for sex.
"We all feel very let down," Dr Duffy said.
The bishop was speaking at the weekend to the people of Roslea parish in Co Fermanagh, where Fr McGrath had been curate.
McGrath (64), gave more than €20,000 to his friend, convicted child rapist Billy Adams (38), who used the money to win the trust of a 12-year-old girl with gifts. He then repeatedly abused her over a six-month period in 2005.
During the trial, McGrath admitted knowing that Adams, with whom he had a sexual relationship, was a convicted child rapist but said he believed his protestations of innocence.
It also emerged during the trial that McGrath's personal wealth came from successful gambling - he won £60,000 on one race alone in 1989 - and from property he inherited from a couple he met while working in Florida.
The priest had denied facilitating the abuse of the child but was convicted of doing so by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court last month.
He was jailed for five years and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs. Adams was sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum term of 7½ years before he is considered for release.
Dr Duffy told the Roslea parishioners that he believed McGrath intended to appeal the conviction so he could not comment on details of the case. "However, it is obvious that some areas of Fr McGrath's lifestyle fell short of what you, and I, would expect of a priest. Indeed, Fr McGrath himself acknowledged this in the evidence that he gave during the trial. We all feel very let down." He continued: "This is a very sad and tragic case and I ask you to keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers."
McGrath's future as a priest would be considered by his religious congregation, St Patrick's Missionary Society, the bishop said, when the judicial process had concluded. He asked the people to support their new priest, Fr Peter O'Reilly, and assured them "the church is committed to the protection of children".
