Ireland Former teacher Peter Kelly jailed for 10 years for sexual abuse of eight boys at Willow Park, Blackrock
Peter Kelly, 73, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 December 2025 for the sexual abuse of eight boys at Willow Park primary school in Blackrock, Dublin, in the early to mid-1980s. Several abuse survivors spoke to The Irish Times after the in camera trial, describing the long road to justice.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court8 Dec
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced8 Dec
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKelly would take a boy under his black cloak and run his hands up and down their torsos and buttocks under the guise of tickling (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne complainant was assaulted on four occasions in a rugby changing room (irishtimes.com)
- whatOne complainant alleged Kelly digitally penetrated his anus (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe DPP accepted pleas of guilty to assault causing harm from four defendants (irishtimes.com)
- whatBarry Moore was arrested on a bench warrant after failing to appear for trial (irishtimes.com)
- whatBarry Moore refused to enter the witness box to give evidence (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe abuse involved eight boys at Willow Park primary school in Blackrock, Dublin, in the early to mid-1980s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMatthew was 11 years old when abused and steered his bicycle into a lamp-post to escape. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKieran Freeney became a boarder at Willow Park after his mother died by suicide and was abused by Kelly and Baylor at ages 11 and 12. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLuke's brother, 12 years older, was also abused at the school. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe offences took place at Willow Park primary school in south Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on various dates in the 1970s and 1980s (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInspector Rachel Kilpatrick was involved from 2021 in a large scale Garda investigation into sexual abuse at Blackrock College and Willow Park (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was convicted of 28 counts of indecent assault of eight boys (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe original charges included causing serious harm and false imprisonment, both carrying potential life sentences (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly was convicted on 28 charges. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan imposed the sentence (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard in a non-jury court with three judges (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial took place in camera. (irishtimes.com)
- sentencePeter Kelly was jailed for a total term of ten years (irishtimes.com)
- sentencePeter Kelly was sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceKelly was sentenced to five years arising from the allegations made by Matthew. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly taught at Willow Park primary school from 1977 until 2004 (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly grew up and lived all his life in Booterstown (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly did not accept the jury verdict (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe eight boys were aged between 10 and 13 at the time of the offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe school was run by the Holy Ghost Fathers, now the Spiritans (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly suffers from prostate cancer, eye and kidney problems, and an anxiety disorder (irishtimes.com)
- otherFour of the boys had been abused by another person at the school (irishtimes.com)
- otherSome complainants suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation (irishtimes.com)
- otherA survivor said 37 abusers were identified at Willow Park and Blackrock College (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe DPP said the State sees no reason to keep Barry Moore in custody (irishtimes.com)
- otherAidan Moore spent years in the United States and over 20 years in Kenya, mainly because of his abuse at Willow Park. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Dec2025‘Justice was done,’ says Willow Park abuse survivor after ex-teacher Peter Kelly jailed for 10 years
Reports the sentencing of Peter Kelly to 10 years for indecent assault of eight boys at Willow Park, Blackrock, in the early to mid-1980s, and includes statements from several survivors on the decades-long path to conviction.
convicted, Peter Kelly, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Kellyvictim, Matthew, maleMatthewvictim, Aidan Moore, male, irish (judged from name)Aidan Moorevictim, Kieran Freeney, male, irish (judged from name)Kieran Freeneyvictim, Luke, maleLuke - 8 Dec2025DPP accepts pleas to assault causing harm from four men after victim refused to testify
Reports the DPP accepting pleas to a lesser charge (assault causing harm, max 10 years) in place of the original charges of causing serious harm and false imprisonment (potential life sentences) after the victim refused to give evidence. Sentencing adjourned to 26 January 2026.
victim, Barry Moore, 34, male, irish (judged from name)Barry Mooreaccused, Jason Hennessy jnr, 28, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason Hennessy jnraccused, Brandon Hennessy, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brandon Hennessyaccused, Kenneth Fitzsimons, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fitzsimonsaccused, Dean Fitzsimons, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dean Fitzsimons - 8 Dec2025Former teacher at Willow Park primary school jailed for 10 years over indecent assault of eight boys
Sentencing hearing; Kelly received a global total of 10 years for 28 counts of indecent assault of eight boys at Willow Park primary school in the 1970s and 1980s. He did not accept the jury verdict. The judge noted aggravating factors including breach of trust, age disparity, and the vulnerability of the children, and mitigating factors including no prior convictions and physical ill health.
convicted, Peter Kelly, 73, male, named, irish (judged from name)Peter Kellyvictim, 10-13 at the time, male