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. 6758Indecent assault · Co. Dublin

Former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean convicted of abusing four more boys

John McClean, 80, a former rugby coach at Terenure College in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys there between 1973 and 1990. He is already serving a global sentence of 10½ years for offending against 45 boys at the school. The four complainants contacted gardaí after press coverage of his other convictions. In 2021 he received a two-year sentence consecutive to an 11-year sentence, and a 2 April 2025 report says he was convicted and sentenced for these four complainants, with no extra time in custody. The latest development is that the court imposed no extra custodial time for these four complainants.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
John McClean pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys.
When
The offences took place between 1973 and 1990.
Where
The offences took place at Terenure College in Dublin, where McClean taught.
Investigation
The four complainants contacted gardaí after press coverage of McClean's other convictions.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • The key facts say McClean received a two-year sentence consecutive to an 11-year sentence, with the final three years suspended, imposed in 2021, while the 2 April 2025 report describes his conviction and sentencing for these four complainants.
  • McClean will not spend extra time in custody for the four most recent complainants.
Other details
  • McClean is serving a global sentence of 10½ years for offending against 45 boys at Terenure College.
  • McClean has health issues including cancer and cardiac difficulties.
5 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcClean pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys between 1973 and 1990 at Terenure College (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMcClean was handed a two-year sentence consecutive to an 11-year sentence with the final three years suspended, imposed in 2021 (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMcClean will not spend extra time in custody for the four most recent complainants (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMcClean is serving a global sentence of 10½ years for offending against 45 boys at the Dublin secondary school (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMcClean has health issues including cancer and cardiac difficulties (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Apr2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘Justice has been served’: Former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean convicted of abusing another four teenagers

    Reports the conviction and sentencing of McClean for four additional complainants, details of his global sentence, and the court's reasoning for not increasing his time in custody.

    convicted, John McClean, 80, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, malevictim, malevictim, malevictim, male