Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0532Indecent assault · Co. Offaly

Former Christian Brother Liam Coughlan jailed for five years for indecent assault of nine boys in Portarlington

A 90-year-old former Christian Brother, Liam Coughlan, was found guilty on 10 July 2026 of 31 counts of indecent assault on nine boys at St Patrick's CBS primary school in Portarlington, Co Offaly, in the early to mid-1980s. He had pleaded not guilty and appeared by video link from prison at the Circuit Criminal Court, Portlaoise, where the jury took about an hour to convict him on all counts. On 24 July 2026, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced him to five years' imprisonment, describing him as 'likely to die in prison' as he is already serving a 4.5-year sentence from a 2023 conviction for abusing 24 pupils in Kilkenny in the 1970s. Coughlan is receiving palliative care in Mountjoy Prison.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted10 Jul
  6. Sentenced24 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Coughlan, a 90-year-old former Christian Brother and teacher, brought boys to the front of his class on an almost daily basis and sexually interfered with them while continuing to address the classroom.
  • The nine victims were mostly aged between 11 and 13 at the time of the abuse.
Where
The assaults took place at St Patrick's CBS primary school on Patrick Street, Portarlington, Co Offaly, in the classroom, a small library, a shed beside the schoolyard, and the front seat of a van driven by Coughlan.
When
The abuse occurred in the early to mid-1980s.
Investigation
A Garda investigation into Coughlan's Kilkenny crimes in the late 1990s did not lead to charges, and the first complaints about the Portarlington abuse were made in 2022.
Charges
Coughlan pleaded not guilty to 31 counts of indecent assault on nine former pupils.
In court
The trial was held at the Circuit Criminal Court, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and Coughlan appeared by video link from prison; the jury took about one hour to find him guilty on all 31 counts on 10 July 2026.
Sentence
On 24 July 2026, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Coughlan to five years' imprisonment, noting he was 'likely to die in prison'.
Other details
  • Coughlan is already serving a 4.5-year sentence from a 2023 conviction for indecently assaulting 24 former pupils at a primary school in Kilkenny in the 1970s.
  • Coughlan is receiving palliative care in Mountjoy Prison and was due to be released in February 2027 from his Kilkenny sentence.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatCoughlan is 90 years old and a former Christian Brother (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCoughlan called boys to the front of the class and put them on his lap while telling other children to read (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boys were mostly aged between 11 and 13 at the time (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe abuse happened mostly in the classroom but also elsewhere inside and outside the school (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCoughlan would bring boys to the front of his class on an almost daily basis and sexually interfere with them while continuing to address the classroom (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe school was on Patrick Street, Portarlington (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSome assaults occurred in a small library in the school (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSome assaults occurred in a shed beside the schoolyard (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSome assaults occurred in the front seat of a van driven by Coughlan (irishtimes.com)
  • whereCoughlan had been living in Co Waterford (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe abuse took place at a primary school on Patrick Street, Portarlington, Co Offaly (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe abuse occurred in the early to mid-1980s (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe abuse occurred in the 1980s (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA Garda investigation into the Kilkenny crimes in the late 1990s did not lead to charges (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCoughlan pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault against nine former students (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe was found guilty to 31 counts of indecent assault on nine former pupils (irishtimes.com)
  • courtCoughlan appeared by video link from prison during the trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was held at the Circuit Criminal Court, Portlaoise, Co Laois (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury took one hour to find Coughlan guilty on all 31 counts (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Keenan Johnson praised the complainants after the verdict (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury was not told that Coughlan was in jail (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Circuit Criminal Court in Portlaoise (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Keenan Johnson, president of the Circuit Court, delivered the sentence (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCoughlan is serving a 4½-year sentence for the Kilkenny crimes (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCoughlan was sentenced to five years' imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceCoughlan was jailed in 2023 for indecently assaulting 24 former pupils at CBS primary school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny, during the 1970s (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan was jailed in 2023 for sexual abuse of primary school students in Kilkenny in the 1970s (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt least one of the complainants was crying after the verdict (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan had been convicted in two cases in 2023 involving 24 former primary school pupils from Kilkenny (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan is now married (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCoughlan is receiving palliative care in Mountjoy Prison (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe was due to be released in February 2027 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis new sentence starts from Friday 24 July 2026 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherVictims outlined suffering insecurity, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and difficulties with personal relationships (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jul2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former Christian Brother ‘likely to die in prison’ after being jailed for five years

    Reports the sentencing of Liam Coughlan to five years for 31 counts of indecent assault on nine boys in Portarlington in the 1980s; he is already in prison for 24 similar offences in Kilkenny from 2023. The judge described him as 'likely to die in prison' and criticised the Christian Brothers' civil court strategy.

    victim, maleconvicted, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan
  2. 10 Jul2026
    Convictedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Former Christian Brother convicted of sexual abuse of boys in Offaly school in 1980s

    Reports the jury verdict finding Coughlan guilty on all 31 counts in about one hour, details of the abuse locations (classroom, library, shed, van), the 40-year delay, the first complaints in 2022, and that sentencing is due later in the month with victim-impact statements.

    convicted, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlanvictim, male