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Priest jailed for train sex attack on sleeping man

Police Scotland Father Daniel Doherty looking right at the camera. He has dark eyes and a balding head, which is obscured by the crop of the picture. He is wearing a dark shirt, the collar of which is just visible.Police Scotland
Father Daniel Doherty was seen putting his hands inside the man's trousers

A priest who sexually assaulted a sleeping man on a train has been jailed for 16 months.

Father Daniel Doherty, the former priest at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk, was seen putting his hands inside the man's trousers.

Doherty, 61, claimed he was "affirming" the victim - who had passed out from drinking - after being caught by passengers on the service to Edinburgh Waverley.

He admitted three charges of sexual assault at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Passengers saw Doherty touching the victim before reporting it to police and rail staff and moving to a different carriage.

When train managers arrived and questioned him he said he and his victim "were just friends".

But during the conversation, staff noticed his trouser button was open and his trouser zip half way undone.

Google St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk. The building is dark stone and has a cross on top of it. A red brick building is to the right and a brown Ford car is parked in front.Google
Doherty was the parish priest at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Falkirk

Doherty and his victim were met off the train by officers from the British Transport Police.

The man did not initially tell officers he had been touched by Doherty, as the priest was standing nearby.

However, in a report to police two days later he said he had woken up "several times" while being abused.

Procurator fiscal Helen Nisbet said: "Daniel Doherty committed these serious sexual offences while holding a position of trust within his community.

"His predatory behaviour was brought to light thanks to the courage of the victim coming forward and reporting it to the authorities."

Doherty left the priesthood following the allegations.

The Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh has offered a "profound apology" to his victim.

Doherty was also placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.