Ireland Former Christian Brother sentenced to five years for indecent assault of five boys
A former Christian Brother, who cannot be named to protect his victims, was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 19 December 2022 for indecently assaulting five boys aged nine and 10 in the late 1970s. He had been convicted in October 2022 on 38 counts after pleading not guilty, and had seven previous convictions for indecent assault.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Dec
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatHe was convicted of indecently assaulting five boys in the late 1970s when they were aged nine and 10 (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was a Christian Brother who was teaching all five boys at the time of the assaults (irishtimes.com)
- whatOn three occasions the accused penetrated the first victim with his finger (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boys were aged nine and ten at the time of the assaults. (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused was a Christian Brother who was teaching all five boys at the time. (rte.ie)
- whenThe assaults took place in the late 1970s. (rte.ie)
- investigationGarda Sgt James Neary gave evidence in court (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe had pleaded not guilty to all charges (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused was convicted on 38 counts of indecently assaulting young boys. (rte.ie)
- courtThe man was convicted in October on 38 counts of indecently assaulting young boys (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was found unanimously guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury deliberated for four hours and twenty-six minutes (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan sentenced him on Monday (irishtimes.com)
- courtPatrick McGrath SC was prosecuting and Ronan Kennedy SC was defending (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe conviction was by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe accused pleaded not guilty to all charges. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan presided over the sentencing. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was five years and 11 months, with the final 11 months suspended (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe accused was sentenced to five years and 11 months, with the final 11 months suspended. (rte.ie)
- otherHe had seven previous convictions, all for indecent assault (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused was living outside Ireland when complaints were made to gardaí and returned voluntarily for an interview (irishtimes.com)
- otherAggravating factors were the seriousness and repetitive nature of the offending, breach of trust, and age disparity (irishtimes.com)
- otherOne victim described the accused as 'the epitome of evil' (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- otherOne victim said he was afraid, ashamed, and felt alone in a class of 40 (irishtimes.com)
- otherAnother victim said he could not trust anyone for decades as a result of the abuse (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused has seven previous convictions, all for indecent assault. (rte.ie)
- otherThree victim impact statements were handed into court. (rte.ie)
- otherOne victim said he was afraid, ashamed and felt alone in a class of forty. (rte.ie)
- otherOne victim said he could not trust anyone for decades. (rte.ie)
- otherAnother victim said the abuse left him with trust issues and anxiety issues. (rte.ie)
- otherThe third victim said his anxiety had been the worst it had ever been for the past three years. (rte.ie)
- otherCharacter references were provided by two friends who had known the accused for over 50 years each. (rte.ie)
- otherTwo former pupils also wrote character references on behalf of the accused. (rte.ie)
- otherThe judge identified aggravating factors including seriousness, repetitive nature, breach of trust, age disparity and position of authority. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Dec2022Former Christian Brother jailed for indecent assault
Sentencing details: five years and 11 months with 11 months suspended; aggravating factors (seriousness, repetitive nature, breach of trust, age disparity, position of authority) and mitigating factors (medical issues, model prisoner, cooperation with gardaí, character references) discussed; three victim impact statements read in court.
convicted, malevictim, 9-10 (at time of assault), malevictim, 9-10 (at time of assault), malevictim, 9-10 (at time of assault), malevictim, 9-10 (at time of assault), malevictim, 9-10 (at time of assault), male - 19 Dec2022Former Christian Brother sentenced to five years in prison over abuse of boys
Sentencing details: five years and 11 months with 11 months suspended; aggravating factors (seriousness, repetitive nature, breach of trust, age disparity) and mitigating factors (medical issues, model prisoner, co-operation with gardaí, character references); three victim impact statements; jury deliberated four hours and twenty-six minutes; accused was living outside Ireland when complaints were made and returned voluntarily for interview.
convicted, malevictim, 9-10, male