Cornelius Horan denies charges of gross indecency

Cornelius Horan, 57, from Nunhead, denies gross indecency with a child in 1991 when he was an assistant priest at St Anthony's Church, in south London.

The prosecution said the child and her mother visited the priest in his bedsit at the church to learn Catholicism.

Mr Horan called on everyone in the Old Bailey courtroom to witness his plea.

'Wonderful relationship'

The plea came after the allegation was put to him by defence counsel Julia Krish.

"Everyone here present, I call on you to witness that at this moment I call upon Almighty God in heaven to strike me dead this very moment if I did such a thing," he said.

The prosecution said it was claimed the priest, also known as Father Neil Horan, stripped out of his vest and green underpants and chased the girl around the room, before lying on the floor.

Mr Horan agreed he was naked but denied getting the child to touch him.

He said that he, the girl and her mother played hide and seek and then the females tickled him on his bed, which he "did not enjoy".

He described his relationship with the mother as "unique".

"It was a good thing. I wish that all priests would have such a wonderful relationship. There is nothing wrong with it.

"Out of the thousands of women I have ever met, this was a different relationship than any other."

He said his relationship with her was the closest and most intense he had ever had with a woman.