A priest who fondled a sleeping train passenger in front of a young family told railway staff: “I was affirming him.”
Father Daniel Doherty, 61, was seen repeatedly kissing the much younger man. On two more occasions he fondled the man, who had passed out after drinking. The victim later reported that Doherty had put his hands inside his trousers.
Doherty, the parish priest at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk, admitted three charges of sexual assault at Kirkcaldy sheriff court.
St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk. Father Daniel Doherty voluntarily withdrew himself from active ministry after the allegations came to light
ALAMY
The incident was witnessed by members of the public and continued for about an hour, Sarah Smith, fiscal depute, told the court.
Doherty has been removed from duties and is on the sex offenders register. In a statement, the Archdiocese of St Andrews
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