Priest in child abuse court case

A Roman Catholic priest has appeared in court accused of facilitating the rape of a 12-year-old girl and sexually touching her.

Father Jeremiah McGrath, of Rosslea, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was appearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

He is alleged to have carried out the offences in Merseyside and Blackpool between May and November this year.

Father Jeremiah, who is suspended by the church and has been on remand in prison, was granted conditional bail.

Second man charged

He will stay at a church address in Horsham, West Sussex, until 2 March when he is expected to submit his plea.

Earlier this month another Irishman, William Adams, appeared before the same court accused of abducting and raping the girl.

Mr Adams, 38, originally from Newtownabbey, near Belfast, lived in the Republic of Ireland before moving to England.

He has been remanded in custody until 2 March.