A monk who had served as a curate in Derry was today found not guilty of historical sex abuse charges after a judge directed a jury to return that verdict.Gerard John McCallion (66) whose address was given as Ballynally, Iniscarragh in County Cork had been due to go on trial at Derry Crown Court today.
He faced three charges of indecent assault on a male under 12 and one charge of gross indecency on a male under 12 on dates between April 1987 and September 1 1988.
This was when McCallion had been seconded to the parish of St. Mary’s in Creggan in Derry as a curate.
However, after the jury was sworn in a prosecution barrister told the court that they were offering no evidence against the defendant.
Judge Philip Babington directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict against McCallion and told him he was free to go.
McCallion had been convicted previously of sex offences and had served a period in prison.
