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Former priest Daniel Doherty has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for sexually assaulting a sleeping man on a train in Scotland. Doherty, 61, put his hands inside the man’s trousers while travelling from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The then-priest at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk claimed he was “affirming” the victim when he was caught. The man had passed out from drinking. Doherty admitted to three counts of sexual assault at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.
Passengers on the train witnessed Doherty touching the victim. Once the assault was reported to police and rail staff, they moved to a different carriage. Managers of the train arrived and immediately questioned Doherty, who initially said that they were “just friends”. However, during the conversation, staff members noticed that his trouser button was open and his trouser zip was half undone.
Doherty and the victim were later met off the train by the British Transport Police. The man did not initially report the assault, as the priest was standing near him. Two days later, he reported the offense. In a statement to police, he said that he had woken up “several times” while he was being abused.
Procurator fiscal Helen Nisbet describes Doherty’s offence as “serious sexual crimes” that were committed while he held “a position of trust within his community”. The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh expressed its sincerity to the victim following the allegations. The church also stated that it has offered a “profound apology” to him. Doherty tendered his resignation from the priesthood following the incident. He has also been placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years
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