Ireland High Court adjourns Kilkenny sexual assault case, Pope not ruled out
A man was sexually assaulted by former Christian Brother Liam Coughlan, 90, while attending CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny in the 1970s. Coughlan was jailed in 2023 for sexually assaulting the man and 23 other former pupils, and was separately convicted of sexual assault of nine pupils at a Portarlington school in the 1980s. The man is now suing the Christian Brothers congregation in the High Court, where the court ordered the names of 341 former brothers to be published as defendants and later granted permission to add further defendants, bringing the total to 435. Judge Mary Rose Gearty said she would not rule out serving the Pope regarding Canon Law, and the matter was adjourned four weeks.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Aug
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man was sexually assaulted by former Christian Brother Liam Coughlan, 90, while attending CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny in the 1970s.
- Where
- The abuse occurred at CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny.
- When
- The abuse occurred in the 1970s.
- In court
- The man is suing the Christian Brothers congregation in the High Court for damages.
- The High Court ordered the names of 341 former Christian Brothers, who were all members between September 1974 and December 1979, to be published in a national newspaper as defendants.
- The court granted permission to add further defendants, bringing the total to 435.
- Judge Mary Rose Gearty said she would not rule out serving the Pope regarding Canon Law.
- The matter was adjourned four weeks.
- Sentence
- Coughlan was jailed in 2023 for sexually assaulting the man and 23 other former pupils in the 1970s.
- Coughlan was convicted of sexual assault of nine former pupils at CBS primary school in Portarlington, Co Offaly in the 1980s and sentenced to five years, or received two jail terms of three years and two months and four-and-a-half years for 49 counts of indecent assault.
- Other details
- The congregation refused to put forward a nominee for the litigation.
- Approximately 100 men still in the congregation are also being joined as defendants.
- Coleman Legal is to ask for permission to serve summonses by newspaper advertisement in three other cases.
21 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe litigant was sexually abused at CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe 341 men were all Christian Brothers between September 1974 and December 1979. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe abuse occurred in the 1970s. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe names of 341 former Christian Brothers were published in a national newspaper following a court order. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCoughlan was convicted of sexual assault of nine former pupils at CBS primary school on Patrick Street, Portarlington, Co Offaly, in the 1980s, following a trial by jury at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere are at least 50 such cases lodged in the High Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Mary Rose Gearty of the High Court ordered that 341 former members could be served with their summons by way of a newspaper advertisement. (irishtimes.com)
- courtColeman Legal is to ask Judge Gearty in the autumn for permission to serve summonses by newspaper advertisement in three other cases. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said she is not suggesting to serve the Pope at this stage but would not rule it out. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe High Court previously granted permission for the names of more than 300 members or former members to be published in a national newspaper. (thejournal.ie)
- courtAndrew Nugent BL successfully argued to join further defendants, bringing the total number to 435. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered the matter to be adjourned for four weeks. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceLiam Coughlan, aged 90, was jailed in 2023 for sexually assaulting the man and 23 other former pupils in the 1970s. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceCoughlan was sentenced to five years in jail for the Portarlington offences. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceIn 2023, Coughlan received two jail terms of three years and two months and four-and-a-half years for 49 counts of indecent assault. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe congregation is not putting forward a nominee for litigation in cases where litigants seek damages for past sexual abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- otherApproximately 100 men still in the congregation are also being joined as defendants. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe president of the Circuit Court, Keenan Johnson, said it was likely Coughlan would die in jail. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrother Gibson has refused to act as a nominee for the congregation. (thejournal.ie)
- otherAll co-defendants were members of the Congregation of the Christian Brothers between 1 July 1971 and 30 June 1977. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe case was brought by a plaintiff who was abused by Christian Brother Liam Coughlan (90) while the victim attended school in Co Kilkenny in the 1970s. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Nov2026Judge not ruling out contacting Pope over Canon Law in relation to Christian Brothers abuse case
Judge Gearty said she would not rule out serving the Pope regarding Canon Law; court granted permission to add further defendants bringing total to 435; additional warning letter to be sent to Christian Brothers' European headquarters in Marino, Dublin; matter adjourned four weeks.
victimaccused, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan - 4 Aug2026Names of 341 former Christian Brothers published following court order in sex abuse case
Reports on the High Court order to publish names of 341 former Christian Brothers as civil defendants, details of Liam Coughlan's criminal convictions (2023 jailing and Portarlington trial), the congregation's legal strategy of refusing a nominee, and the planned extension of the newspaper service to three further cases.
victim, maleconvicted, Liam Coughlan, 90, male, named, irish (judged from name)Liam Coughlan