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. 3662Indecent assault (sexual assault) · Co. Limerick

Former Christian Brother Liam McGrath jailed for 5½ years over 1980s sexual assaults on two boys

Liam McGrath, 75, a former Christian Brother teacher and school principal, was sentenced to 5½ years in prison at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court after being found guilty on seven of 11 counts of indecent assault on two boys in the 1980s. Judge Colin Daly lifted reporting restrictions, allowing McGrath, formerly known as Brother Kilian, to be named for the first time.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcGrath was a former Christian Brother teacher and school principal (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcGrath was previously known as Brother Kilian (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcGrath is 75 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe two survivors are now adult men in their 50s (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcGrath had no prior convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcGrath was in his 30s at the time of the assaults (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boys were aged between 12 and 14 at the time of the assaults (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcGrath left the Christian Brothers after the abuse and got married and had two children (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMcGrath is originally from Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMcGrath's address is at Marketpoint, The Deck, Mullingar, Co Westmeath (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe sex assaults took place at various locations around Ireland (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe assaults took place on different dates in the 1980s (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe two survivors made complaints to gardaí in 2020 and 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMcGrath pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault on the two boys (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMcGrath was found guilty on seven counts and acquitted on four counts (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe two cases were prosecuted together in one trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecuting barrister was Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Brendan Gill (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMcGrath was jailed for 5 and a half years (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Mar2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former Christian Brother jailed for sexually assaulting two boys more than 40 years ago

    Sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court; reporting restrictions lifted; two survivors now in their 50s read victim impact statements; McGrath found guilty on 7 of 11 counts, acquitted on 4; complaints made to gardaí in 2020 and 2022 and prosecuted together in one trial.

    convicted, Liam McGrath, 75, male, Irish, named, irishLiam McGrathvictim, 50s, malevictim, 50s, male