Becoming an altar boy was Andrew Madden's first step in realizing his dream of becoming a priest. But his dream was shattered when he was molested by his favourite priest, Father Ivan Payne. Three years of abuse followed, ending when he was 15. That dreadful episode in his life left him shunned by the Irish Church, unable to sustain sexual relationships and an alcoholic. In the early 90s, Andrew reached a financial settlement with Father Payne and became the first Irish victim of clerical sexual abuse to go public with his story. "Altar Boy" is a vivid evocation of what it is for a child to have his innocence and trust abused and of how it can affect a life - as well as a challenging assessment of the Irish Church.