High Court orders publication of 341 former Christian Brothers' names in sex abuse civil case
In the 1970s, a man was sexually assaulted by Liam Coughlan, a man now 90, at CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny. Coughlan was jailed in 2023 for sexually assaulting the man and 23 other former pupils in the 1970s, and was separately convicted and sentenced to five years for assaulting nine pupils at a CBS primary school in Portarlington, Co Offaly, in the 1980s. The man is now suing the Christian Brothers congregation in the High Court, and Judge Mary Rose Gearty ordered that 341 former members of the congregation, all of whom were Christian Brothers between September 1974 and December 1979, be served with summons by way of a newspaper advertisement. The names were published in a national newspaper in August 2026, and Coleman Legal plans to seek the same order in three further cases in the autumn.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Aug
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man was sexually assaulted by Liam Coughlan, a man aged 90, at CBS school on Stephen Street, Kilkenny, in the 1970s.
- In court
- Coughlan was convicted of the 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.
- Judge Mary Rose Gearty of the High Court ordered that 341 former Christian Brothers, all members between September 1974 and December 1979, be served with summons by way of a newspaper advertisement.
- The names of the 341 former Christian Brothers were published in a national newspaper following the court order.
- Coleman Legal is to ask Judge Gearty in the autumn for permission to serve summonses by newspaper advertisement in three other cases.
- Sentence
- Coughlan was jailed in 2023 for sexually assaulting the man and 23 other former pupils in the 1970s.
- Coughlan was sentenced to five years in jail for the Portarlington offences.
- Other details
- The Christian Brothers congregation is not putting forward a nominee for litigation in cases where litigants seek damages for past sexual abuse.
- Approximately 100 men still in the congregation are also being joined as defendants.
- There are at least 50 such cases lodged in the High Court.
- The president of the Circuit Court, Keenan Johnson, said it was likely Coughlan would die in jail.
13 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)
- 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)
- 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)
The reporting
newest first- 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