Ireland Former Christian Brother sentenced for abusing 19 boys at Kilkenny school
Liam Coughlan (87), a former Christian Brother, was sentenced for indecently assaulting 19 boys at a primary school in Kilkenny in the 1970s. Former pupils of a CBS national school in Laois, where he was school principal and taught in the 1980s and 1990s, have made allegations of similar abuse, and Gardaí are investigating them. In October 2023 he was sentenced to 4½ years for the Kilkenny offences, and the Laois investigation remains ongoing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced21 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Liam Coughlan, a former Christian Brother aged 87, was sentenced for indecently assaulting 19 boys.
- The victims were boys who were pupils at the Kilkenny primary school.
- Former Laois pupils said Coughlan would select a boy, sit him on his lap, and kiss and fondle him in full view of others during classes.
- Where
- The indecent assaults took place at a primary school in Kilkenny.
- Coughlan taught at a CBS national school in Co Laois in the 1980s and 1990s, where he was school principal.
- When
- The Kilkenny offences took place in the 1970s.
- Other details
- A former Laois pupil said about half the boys in his class were abused in this way, and that many boys in the town were likely affected.
- Investigation
- Gardaí are conducting an ongoing investigation into alleged similar crimes at the Laois school.
- In court
- Coughlan was sentenced in October 2023 for the Kilkenny offences.
- A separate earlier Kilkenny trial found him guilty of abusing five other boys and gave him three years and two months; this is not treated as part of the present case.
- Sentence
- Coughlan was sentenced to 4½ years in prison.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- 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)
- whereThe abuse happened during class. (irishtimes.com)
- 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 the crimes. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentence was handed down in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCoughlan is now beginning a 4½-year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCoughlan has cancer and other serious health issues. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 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