Ireland Case No. 7312Indecent assault · Co. Kilkenny
Former Christian Brother dies in prison after indecent assault convictions in Kilkenny
Liam Coughlan, a man and former Christian Brother, indecently assaulted boys at a primary school in Kilkenny in the 1970s and at St Patrick's Christian Brothers Primary School in Portarlington in the 1980s. He was convicted by a jury in May 2023 on 30 counts involving five boys in Kilkenny and sentenced to three years and two months, then pleaded guilty to 19 further counts involving 19 boys in Kilkenny in October 2023 and was sentenced to four and a half years running concurrently. In July 2026, he was found guilty of 31 counts involving nine boys in Portarlington and sentenced to five years. Coughlan, aged 90, died in Mountjoy Prison in November 2026 while receiving palliative care.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Oct
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A former Christian Brother indecently assaulted boys at a primary school in Kilkenny in the 1970s and at St Patrick's Christian Brothers Primary School in Portarlington in the 1980s.
- Where
- The Kilkenny offences took place at a CBS primary school on Stephen Street; the Portarlington offences took place at St Patrick's Christian Brothers Primary School.
- When
- The Kilkenny offences were committed between 1974 and 1978; the Portarlington offences were committed in the 1980s.
- Cause
- The abuse involved kissing boys, touching their bottoms, fondling genitals, and making boys touch his penis and masturbate him.
- Investigation
- A Garda investigation started in 1998 after three complainants came forward but did not result in prosecution; a second investigation led to charges being brought.
- Charges
- Coughlan was found guilty by a jury on 30 counts of indecently assaulting five boys in Kilkenny in May 2023, and pleaded guilty to 19 counts involving 19 boys in Kilkenny in October 2023.
- Coughlan was found guilty of 31 counts of indecently assaulting nine boys in Portarlington in July 2026.
- In court
- The Kilkenny sentences were handed down at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; the Portarlington sentence was handed down at Portlaoise Circuit Court.
- Sentence
- Coughlan was sentenced to three years and two months in May 2023, four and a half years in October 2023 running concurrently, and five years in July 2026.
- Other details
- Coughlan, aged 90, died in Mountjoy Prison in November 2026 while receiving palliative care.
- Coughlan left the Christian Brothers in the 1990s, married, and moved to Tramore, County Waterford.
- Coughlan is the subject of an ongoing investigation into similar alleged crimes in County Laois.
62 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA former Christian Brother was sentenced to 4½ years in jail for sexual abuse of former students. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCoughlan was sentenced for indecently assaulting 19 boys in a primary school in Kilkenny in the 1970s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse involved kissing boys, touching their bottoms, fondling genitals and making boys touch his penis and masturbate him. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLiam Coughlan, 90, died in Mountjoy Prison while receiving palliative care. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatHe was a former Christian Brother who left the order in the 1990s. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatHe was further convicted earlier in 2026 for sexual abuse of former students at the CBS primary school on Patrick Street in Portarlington during the 1980s. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whatCoughlan died in prison while receiving palliative care. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe had been a headmaster at the Portarlington school in the 1980s. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe left the Christian Brothers in the 1990s. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatCoughlan also taught in counties including Carlow and Cork. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatHe married and moved to Tramore, County Waterford. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe abuse took place at a school in Co Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at a school in the southeast of the country. (rte.ie)
- whereThe offences took place when Coughlan was a teacher at a school in County Kilkenny. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- whereThe abuse happened during class. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse took place in the 1970s. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences were committed on dates between 1974 and 1978. (rte.ie, kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationA Garda investigation that started in 1998 led to no prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA second investigation involving multiple complainants led to charges being brought. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda investigation that led to the conviction started in 2010, according to the victim. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation took years because Coughlan denied the abuse until earlier in the year. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn initial investigation did not result in prosecution, and a later investigation led to charges. (rte.ie)
- investigationA second investigation in recent years led to Coughlan being charged with the offences. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- investigationCoughlan was investigated in 1998 when three of the men he abused in Kilkenny made complaints, but charges were not brought at that time. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCoughlan is the subject of an ongoing investigation into similar alleged crimes in Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoughlan pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts of indecently assaulting 19 boys. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCoughlan pleaded guilty to 19 counts of indecently assaulting 19 boys. (rte.ie, kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeCoughlan was previously found guilty by a jury of 30 counts of indecently assaulting five other boys at the same school in the 1970s. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- chargeCoughlan pleaded guilty to the crimes. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was found guilty of 31 counts of indecently assaulting nine schoolboys at St Patrick's Christian Brothers Primary School in Portarlington. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan handed down the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCoughlan was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by Judge Elma Sheahan. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtCoughlan was already serving a sentence of three years and two months. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was convicted in May 2023 by a jury on 30 counts of indecent assault involving five boys. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- courtJudge Keenan Johnson noted he would likely die in prison. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtHe was jailed in 2023 following two separate legal proceedings at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court concerning the CBS primary school on Stephen Street in Kilkenny. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceCoughlan is already serving a sentence of three years and two months from an earlier jury conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCoughlan was jailed for four and a half years. (rte.ie, kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was ordered to start on the day of sentencing and run concurrently with his current sentence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge noted that the maximum sentence for each offence of indecent assault in that period is two years. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence runs concurrently with the sentence Coughlan is currently serving. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceCoughlan is now beginning a 4½-year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to three years and two months in prison in May 2023. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceIn October 2023 he received an additional four-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to 19 sample counts of indecent assault against 19 schoolboys between 1974 and 1978. (kilkennypeople.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceJudge Keenan Johnson, president of the Circuit Court, sentenced him to five years for the Portarlington offences. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to five years in prison for the Portarlington crimes. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceIn May 2023 he was convicted by a jury on 30 counts of indecent assault involving five boys and sentenced to three years and two months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe prosecutor said all matters against Coughlan were now concluded and he could be named. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCoughlan is 87 years old. (rte.ie)
- otherCoughlan was already serving a sentence of three years and two months for earlier convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge said Coughlan was in a position of power and authority as a teacher and a Christian Brother. (rte.ie, kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Coughlan has serious health issues, including prostate cancer and secondary bone cancer. (rte.ie)
- otherThe court heard Coughlan threatened to kill one boy if he told anyone about the abuse. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherCoughlan is undergoing chemotherapy for prostate cancer and secondary bone cancer, which are not curable. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherCoughlan has cancer and other serious health issues. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThree complainants came forward in 1998 but their allegations did not result in a prosecution. (kilkennypeople.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherHe observed the Portarlington trial via video-link from Mountjoy Prison due to outstanding medical reasons. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherThroughout his career he also taught in counties including Laois, Carlow, and Cork. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherHe left the order in the 1990s, married and moved to Tramore, County Waterford. (kilkennypeople.ie)
- otherA number of his victims are currently suing the Christian Brothers for damages. (kilkennypeople.ie, leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Nov2026Former Christian Brother who sexually abused children in Portarlington dies in prison
Reports Coughlan's death in prison while receiving palliative care, and provides additional detail on his Portarlington sentencing by Judge Keenan Johnson, his 2023 Kilkenny convictions, his teaching career, and ongoing civil litigation by victims against the Christian Brothers.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan - 5 Nov2026Former Christian Brother who sexually abused children in Kilkenny dies in prison
Reports Coughlan's death in Mountjoy Prison while receiving palliative care, and provides a summary of his multiple convictions, sentences, and personal history.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan - 21 Oct2023Former Christian Brother jailed for assaulting 19 boys investigated for alleged abuse in Co Laois
Reports the sentencing of Liam Coughlan (87) for 19 sample Kilkenny counts, a 4½-year sentence, and an ongoing Garda investigation into alleged abuse at a CBS school in Co Laois. It also mentions a separate earlier Kilkenny trial in which he was found guilty of abusing five other boys and given three years and two months; that trial is not treated as part of this case.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 87, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlanvictim, male - 17 Oct2023Former Christian Brother jailed for four and a half years for sexual abuse of 19 boys in Kilkenny
Reports the sentencing hearing: four and a half years, concurrent with his existing sentence, the judge's remarks, victim impact statements, the defence plea on his health, and the prosecution's account of the second investigation.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 87, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlanvictim, male - 16 Oct2023Ex Christian Brother jailed for sexual abuse of 19 boys
Sentencing report. Adds the four-and-a-half-year sentence, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court venue, the concurrent sentence, and victim impact statements. The article gives the school location only as 'the southeast of the country', not a county.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 87, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlanvictim, male - 16 Oct2023Former Christian Brother (80s) jailed for sexual abuse of former students at Kilkenny school in 1970s
Reports the 4½-year sentence for 19 sample counts, to which Coughlan pleaded guilty, and that he is already serving three years and two months for a jury conviction on 30 counts involving five other boys at the same school.
convicted, Liam Coughlan, 87, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan
Changed after publication
facts outlets added, removed or correctedkilkennypeople.ie, 5 Nov 2026, 14:23: Former Christian Brother who sexually abused children in Kilkenny dies in prison
- AddedJudge Elma Sheahan said at sentencing that the abuse instilled fear and embarrassment in young boys and has tormented the men they became
- AddedJudge Sheahan acknowledged the time it took for the abuse to come to light and paid tribute to the determination of the complainants
- AddedThree complainants came forward in 1998 but their allegations did not result in a prosecution
- CorrectedThe list of counties where Coughlan taught was changed from a definitive list to a non-exhaustive one by adding 'including' (was Coughlan also taught in counties Laois, Carlow, and Cork, now Coughlan also taught in counties including Laois, Carlow, and Cork)