Ireland Former Christian Brother jailed for sexual abuse of former students at Kilkenny school
A Garda investigation begun in 1998 led to no prosecution, and a later investigation begun in 2010 involved interviews with hundreds of former students. Liam Coughlan (87), a former Christian Brother, was found guilty by a jury earlier in 2023 of abusing five boys at a Co Kilkenny school in the 1970s and began serving three years and two months. On 16 October 2023 Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to 4½ years for indecently assaulting 19 boys, to which he had pleaded guilty. The prosecutor said all matters against him were now concluded and that he could be named.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A former Christian Brother, Liam Coughlan (87), was sentenced to 4½ years in jail for sexual abuse of former students.
- Where
- The abuse took place at a school in Co Kilkenny.
- When
- The abuse took place in the 1970s.
- Investigation
- A Garda investigation begun in 1998 led to no prosecution.
- A Garda investigation begun in 2010, according to the victim, involved interviews with hundreds of former students and led to the conviction.
- The investigation took years because Coughlan denied the abuse until earlier in the year.
- Charges
- Coughlan pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts of indecently assaulting 19 boys.
- In court
- Judge Elma Sheahan handed down the sentence.
- Sentence
- Coughlan was sentenced to 4½ years in jail on 16 October 2023.
- He is already serving three years and two months from an earlier jury conviction on 30 counts involving five other boys at the same school.
- Other details
- The prosecutor said all matters against Coughlan were now concluded and he could be named.
- Two of his victims told The Irish Times that the sentence did not make them want to celebrate.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA former Christian Brother was sentenced to 4½ years in jail for sexual abuse of former students. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place at a school in Co Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse took place in the 1970s. (irishtimes.com)
- 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)
- chargeCoughlan pleaded guilty to 19 sample counts of indecently assaulting 19 boys. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan handed down the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCoughlan is already serving a sentence of three years and two months from an earlier jury conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecutor said all matters against Coughlan were now concluded and he could be named. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 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