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. 7157Indecent assault · Co. Dublin

Former school principal gets 16 more months for indecent assault of four boys

Aidan Clohessy (85), a former principal of St Augustine's School in Blackrock, Co Dublin, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in May 2025 of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys who were pupils there, with offending between 1969 and 1986. On Monday 23 June 2025 Judge Elva Duffy jailed him for four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. On Tuesday 24 June 2025 Judge Martin Nolan imposed a further 16 months for five counts involving four boys, consecutive to the four-year term, giving a global sentence of five years and four months. That sentencing for the second trial is the latest development in the case.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Aidan Clohessy, an 85-year-old man, was convicted of indecent assault against six boys.
Where
The offences took place at St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co Dublin, where Clohessy was principal from the early 1970s until 1993.
When
The offending took place between 1969 and 1986, when the boys were aged between 10 and 13.
Charges
  • In the first trial he was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault relating to two boys on dates between 1983 and 1985.
  • In the second trial he was convicted of five counts of indecent assault relating to four boys, two counts for one boy and one count each for the other three.
In court
  • Clohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault in the second trial, and was convicted of 19 counts across both trials.
  • Victim impact statements were read to the court for all six injured parties, and one victim addressed Clohessy directly in a statement read by his wife.
Investigation
Clohessy denied wrongdoing when interviewed voluntarily by gardaí but acknowledged that corporal punishment was used in the school, including striking boys on their bare buttocks for the most serious offences.
Other details
  • Clohessy was a member of the Order of St John of God, voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013, and his address is at Granada, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
  • The case record lists five victims, while the articles report that six boys were abused.
Sentence
  • On Monday Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Clohessy to four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s.
  • On Tuesday Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 16-month sentence for the second trial, consecutive to the four-year sentence.
  • Clohessy received a global sentence of five years and four months for offending against six injured parties, and the judge said a standalone sentence for a younger offender would have been three to four years.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereHis address is at the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Granada, Stillorgan, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offending in the second trial took place between 1969 and 1986. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenAll offences in the second trial took place between 1969 and 1986. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeIn the second trial, Clohessy was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting four boys. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeIn the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault relating to two boys on dates between 1983 and 1985. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeHe was convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault in relation to six boys following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeIn the second trial, two counts related to one boy and one count each related to the other three boys. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeIn the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault, 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRonan Kennedy SC was defending Clohessy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence in relation to the second trial on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtClohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a 16-month sentence for the second trial, consecutive to the four-year sentence from the first trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceClohessy received a global sentence of five years and four months for offending against six injured parties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elva Duffy sentenced Clohessy to four years in the first trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceClohessy was jailed for four years on Monday for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe 16-month sentence runs consecutive to the four-year sentence imposed on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceClohessy received a total sentence of five years and four months for offending against six injured parties. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherClohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault in the second trial. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy was the principal of St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co. Dublin from the early 1970s until 1993. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe six boys were all pupils of the school, some of whom were boarders. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when the offending took place. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe abuse primarily took the form of inappropriate touching. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherClohessy was a member of the Order of St John of God. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy denied wrongdoing when interviewed voluntarily by gardai but acknowledged corporal punishment was used in the school. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClohessy told gardai corporal punishment included striking boys on their bare buttocks for the most serious offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherVictim impact statements were read to the court on behalf of all six injured parties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGerard Quinn addressed Clohessy directly in a statement read by his wife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJudge Nolan noted the aggravating feature that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJudge Nolan said if it were a standalone trial and Clohessy was younger, he would impose a sentence of between three and four years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAn aggravating feature was that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIn 1993 he was appointed to lead a mission in Malawi. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe school catered for boys with mild to moderate learning disability at that time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSome of the complainants had no objection to being identified. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Jun2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Principal of school in Blackrock, Dublin, given further 16 months for indecent assault charges

    Reports the Tuesday sentencing for the second trial (five counts, four boys, 1969–1986) and provides full background on both trials, the school, and the totality principle applied by Judge Martin Nolan.

    convicted, Aidan Clohessy, 85, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Clohessyvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male
  2. 24 Jun2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Ex-school principal jailed for indecent assault gets extra jail time

    Sentencing in the second trial; adds details on the 16-month consecutive sentence, the totality principle, victim impact statements, Clohessy's background as a member of the Order of St John of God, and his defence's submissions.

    convicted, Aidan Clohessy, 85, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aidan Clohessyvictim, Gerard Quinn, male, irish (judged from name)Gerard Quinn