Ireland Case No. 5532Sexual abuse (indecent assault and sexual assault) · Co. Dublin
McClean resentenced to 10.5 years for sexual abuse at Terenure College
John McClean, a 78-year-old man (reports differ: 79), was a teacher and rugby coach at Terenure College in south Dublin who was convicted of sexually abusing 45 boys between 1971 and 1993, including Paul Kennedy, 60, and Damien Hetherington. In February 2021, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to an 11-year term with three years suspended for the abuse of 23 pupils, and in February 2023, Judge Martin Nolan added four consecutive years after McClean pleaded guilty to 27 counts involving 22 boys. The Court of Appeal quashed the 2023 sentence in July 2024, finding it did not stand up to rigorous analysis, and imposed a global term of 10 and a half years for all 45 offences.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Feb
4 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Feb
5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- John McClean, a teacher and rugby coach at Terenure College, was convicted of sexually abusing 45 boys between 1971 and 1993.
- Where
- The abuse took place at Terenure College in south Dublin, mainly in McClean's office, a windowless physiotherapy room, or a room under the concert hall.
- When
- The offences were committed between 1971 and 1993 over a period of more than 20 years.
- Charges
- McClean pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault in January 2023 and a further 23 counts (21 indecent assault, 2 sexual assault) in February 2023, totalling 27 counts involving 22 boys.
- In court
- In February 2021, Judge Pauline Codd at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced McClean to an 11-year term with three years suspended for the abuse of 23 pupils.
- In February 2024, the Court of Appeal heard McClean's appeal against the severity of the consecutive sentences.
- Sentence
- In February 2023, Judge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive four-year sentence, making a global 12-year term.
- In July 2024, the Court of Appeal quashed the 2023 sentence and imposed a global term of 10 and a half years for all 45 offences.
- Other details
- McClean has 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of boys under 18 who attended Terenure College.
- The Carmelite Order accepted it was a grave failure that McClean was not stopped earlier.
- McClean was 78 at the time of sentencing (reports differ: 79) and will be 84 upon release.
- Investigation
- The Garda investigation into McClean has been completed with no outstanding allegations.
120 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPaul Kennedy was a student at Terenure College when he was sexually abused by John McClean. (thejournal.ie)
- whatPaul Kennedy is 60 years old. (thejournal.ie)
- whatKennedy waived his right to anonymity. (thejournal.ie)
- whatKennedy said McClean groomed him after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcClean admitted sexually assaulting 20 boys at Terenure College between 1971 and 1992 (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcClean was appointed form-master for first years in 1980 and used that position and his rugby coaching role to prey on children (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcClean admitted sexually assaulting 20 boys at the school between 1971 and 1992 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe court heard evidence from several injured parties including one man who joined by video-link from the US (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcClean was appointed form-master for first years in 1980 and used this position and his role as rugby coach to prey on children (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcClean taught French and English during his three-decade tenure at the school (irishtimes.com)
- whatPaul Kennedy, now aged 60, described how McClean set about grooming him after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer (irishtimes.com)
- whatIn January, McClean affirmed guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault relating to two boys during the 1980s (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- whatOn Thursday morning, McClean pleaded guilty to a further 23 counts of abusing 20 boys at the college between 1971 and 1992 (irishtimes.com)
- whatJohn McClean admitted to sexually assaulting 20 boys (extra.ie)
- whatJohn McClean is a former rugby coach (extra.ie)
- whatA former Terenure Rugby Coach is to serve four more years (extra.ie)
- whatHe admitted to sexually abusing another 22 boys (extra.ie)
- whatMcClean was convicted of sexually abusing 45 pupils at Terenure College. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcClean was convicted of sexually abusing a total of 45 pupils over more than 20 years. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJohn McClean won an appeal against the severity of a four-year term for sexually abusing 22 pupils. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcClean has been convicted of sexually abusing 45 pupils. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMost of the charges were for indecent assault, and two were for sexual assault against a student in the 1990s. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place mainly in his office, a windowless physiotherapy room or in a room under the concert hall known as the smoking room (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assaults took place at Terenure College (extra.ie)
- whereThe offences involved pupils at Terenure College. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe abuse involved pupils at Terenure College, where McClean was a teacher. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe abuse took place at the school in south Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMcClean is to be sentenced on Friday at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe 11-year sentence was handed down in 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whenHe abused his first child in 1971 and continued until 1993. (rte.ie)
- whenThe charges relate to offences committed between 1971 and 1993. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offences were committed between 1971 and 1993. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offending took place over a period of more than 20 years. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe judgment was delivered on a Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said all the incidents were committed for the sexual gratification of the appellant. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda investigation into John McClean has been completed and there are no outstanding allegations from any more of his victims. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe Court of Appeal will listen to the DAR recording of the proceedings before Judge Codd and read the victim impact statements. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeIn January 2023, McClean affirmed guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault relating to two boys during the 1980s. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMcClean was arraigned on a further 23 counts of abusing 20 boys at the college between 1971 and 1992. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeIn January he affirmed guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault relating to two boys during the 1980s (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was arraigned on a further 23 counts of abusing 20 boys between 1971 and 1992 (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMost charges are indecent assault while two are sexual assault carried out against a student in the 1990s (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMost of the charges are of indecent assault while two are of sexual assault carried out against a student in the 1990s (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThis week McClean pleaded guilty to 23 counts of abusing 20 boys at the college between 1971 and 1992. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMost charges are of indecent assault, while two are of sexual assault carried out against a student in the 1990s. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 22 boys at the school between 1971 and 1992 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to a further 23 counts of abusing 20 boys between 1971 and 1992 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMost charges were indecent assault, with two counts of sexual assault carried out against a student in the 1990s (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThere was a total of 53 counts within both books of evidence (irishtimes.com)
- chargeIn January 2023 McClean pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault relating to two boys during the 1980s. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMcClean later pleaded guilty to a further 23 counts relating to abuse of another 20 boys at the college between 1971 and 1992. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe arraignment took place at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSeveral injured parties read victim impact statements, including one man by video-link from the US (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing continues before Judge Martin Nolan and is expected to conclude on 24 February (thejournal.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for sentencing to 1pm on Friday (irishtimes.com)
- courtA number of pupils whom McClean abused were present in court over the two-day hearing, some via video link from overseas. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge noted there were 22 complainants, some abused once and others up to eight times (irishtimes.com)
- courtA number of pupils were present in court for evidence on Thursday and sentencing on Friday, some via video link from overseas (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe hearing took place in the Criminal Courts of Justice (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Pauline Codd sentenced McClean in February 2021 for the abuse of 23 victims. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal reserved judgment in the case. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSeán Guerin SC, for McClean, launched the appeal against the severity of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State argued that allowing McClean to serve no additional jail time for abusing 22 additional victims would have been unfair. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice George Birmingham said the court would reserve judgment in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was initially given an eight-year sentence in 2021 for abusing 23 pupils. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe pleaded guilty to abusing 22 more boys at the college between 1971 and 1992. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the sentencing judge erred in principle and that the global sentence did not stand up to rigorous analysis. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards delivered the judgment on behalf of a three-judge Court of Appeal. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcClean is serving an eight-year sentence handed down in 2021 for abusing 23 pupils. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMcClean is already serving an eight-year sentence from 2021 for abusing 23 pupils (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMcClean was sentenced to four years in prison for the sexual abuse of 22 boys at Terenure College over a 20-year period. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe four-year sentence runs consecutively to his current eight-year sentence and will begin in February 2027. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan said he would have imposed a longer sentence if McClean was not already serving a substantial sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceGlobally, McClean will be serving a 12-year sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMcClean was sentenced to four more years for sexually abusing 22 boys over three decades from the 1970s to the 1990s. (rte.ie)
- sentenceHe is already serving an eight-year sentence which expires in February 2027. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan said the four years is to commence on expiry of the existing sentence, giving an effective sentence of 12 years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceMcClean was jailed for an additional four years and will remain in prison until 2030 (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was already serving an 11-year sentence with the final three years suspended, imposed in 2021 for abusing 23 pupils (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge imposed four additional years and refused to suspend any of it (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe combination of the 2021 sentence and the new term was 12 years (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Codd's sentence for the first tranche of victims was reduced to a final sentence of eight years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan imposed a consecutive four-year sentence in February 2023 for the abuse of 22 further victims. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe four-year sentence will begin when the first sentence is served in February 2027. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Pauline Codd at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced McClean in February 2021 for abusing 23 victims. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMcClean was given consecutive sentences totalling 12 years, which he has complained were too severe. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Nolan's four-year sentence will begin when McClean's first sentence is served in February 2027. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Martin Nolan gave him a four-year sentence in February 2023, to run consecutive to his first sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal quashed the February 2023 sentence and resentenced McClean to a global term of 10 and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe resentence is a global term of 10 and a half years in prison for all 45 offences. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean is currently serving an 11-year sentence with the final three years suspended for abusing 23 Terenure College pupils (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean has 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of young boys under the age of 18 who attended Terenure College (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean's defence counsel said he was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean will be 84 years old upon his release from prison. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMcClean has 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of young boys under 18 who attended Terenure College. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThere are 22 complainants, some abused on a single occasion and others three, four, six, seven or up to eight times. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJudge Nolan noted McClean was a teacher in a position of trust who used that position to gratify his own needs. (thejournal.ie)
- otherJudge Nolan noted no one took steps to stop the abuse. (thejournal.ie)
- otherTwo books of evidence were served with 22 victims in total and 53 counts overall. (thejournal.ie)
- otherOffences before 1990 are referred to as indecent assault; a 1991 act changed the charge to sexual assault and increased sentencing terms. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe Carmelite Order accepted it was a grave failure that John McClean was not stopped. (rte.ie)
- otherMcClean was 78 years old at the time of sentencing. (rte.ie)
- otherThe total number of boys proven to have been abused at the college is 45. (rte.ie)
- otherMcClean joined the teaching staff at Terenure College in 1966 at age 21. (rte.ie)
- otherHe targeted vulnerable children and those involved in sports, bringing boys aged 12 to 17 to offices and changing rooms to indecently assault and sexually abuse them. (rte.ie)
- otherHe told the boys he needed to treat their sports injuries or check their development. (rte.ie)
- otherJudge Martin Nolan said McClean was a determined and persistent offender whose proclivities were well known and he should have been stopped earlier. (rte.ie)
- otherFr Michael Troy said the Carmelites were truly sorry for the failure to stop McClean. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Carmelite Order said counselling and therapy can be arranged for victims and survivors at no cost. (rte.ie)
- otherThe Order said it swiftly offers financial compensation and several civil legal actions are ongoing. (rte.ie)
- otherDamien Hetherington waived his anonymity and said it would have been better if McClean had been jailed 20 or 30 years ago. (rte.ie)
- otherHetherington said he has had no direct contact and never received an apology from Terenure College. (rte.ie)
- otherHe is regarded as one of the most prolific sex offenders in the history of the State, with more than 40 known victims (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of boys under 18 who attended Terenure College (irishtimes.com)
- otherOffences before 1990 are referred to as indecent assault; a 1991 Act changed the charge to sexual assault (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean complained that the consecutive sentences totalling 12 years were too severe. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCounsel for McClean argued the decision was an error in principle. (thejournal.ie)
- otherCounsel for the State argued that a concurrent sentence would not have reflected the victims' suffering. (thejournal.ie)
- otherTwenty-two new people came forward after the first sentencing in 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- otherMcClean had 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of young boys who attended Terenure College. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Jul2024Former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean successfully appeals sentence for sexual abuse cases
Court of Appeal ruling on sentence severity; quashes the February 2023 sentence and sets a global 10.5-year term for all 45 offences.
convicted, John McClean, 79, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McClean - 12 Feb2024Former Terenure College rugby coach John McClean appeals against consecutive sentences for sexually abusing pupils
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing of McClean's appeal against sentence, the State's submissions, and that judgment was reserved.
convicted, John McClean, 79, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McClean - 12 Feb2024Ex-rugby coach John McClean claims consecutive jail terms for child sex abuse were too severe
Reports the Court of Appeal hearing on McClean's appeal against the consecutive sentence imposed by Judge Martin Nolan in February 2023, with the State and the defence arguing the sentence length; judgment was reserved.
convicted, John McClean, 79, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McClean - 24 Feb2023Former Terenure Rugby Coach To Serve Four More Years After Admitting Sexually Abusing Another 22 Boys
The article reports the sentencing of a former Terenure Rugby Coach to four additional years for sexually abusing 22 boys. The body of the article contains only website template code with no further substantive detail beyond the headline.
convicted, malevictim, male - 24 Feb2023Former Terenure College teacher John McClean jailed for four years for sex attacks
Reports the sentencing of John McClean to an additional four years for 27 counts of sexual abuse of 22 boys at Terenure College (1971–1992). He will remain in prison until 2030. Judge Martin Nolan noted the combined 2021 and 2023 sentences total 12 years.
convicted, John McClean, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, male - 24 Feb2023'Grave failure' abuser was not stopped - Carmelites
Adds the Carmelite Order's response calling the failure to stop McClean a 'grave failure', details of Judge Martin Nolan's sentencing reasoning (effective 12-year sentence), victim Damien Hetherington's public comments, and confirmation that the Garda investigation is complete with no outstanding allegations.
suspect, John McClean, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, Damien Hetherington, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Hetherington - 24 Feb2023Ex-rugby coach jailed for further four years for sexually assaulting 22 boys at Terenure College
Reports the sentencing of McClean to four years for 27 counts involving 22 boys, running consecutively to his 2021 eight-year sentence, making his global sentence 12 years. Details the judge's remarks, mitigation factors, and the structure of the 53 counts across two books of evidence.
convicted, John McClean, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, male - 23 Feb2023Ex-Rugby Coach John McClean Admits To Sexually Assaulting 20 Boys At Terenure College
Article body consists only of website template code; substantive detail is limited to the headline.
accused, John McClean, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, male - 23 Feb2023John McClean told to rot in hell as past pupils describe how he abused them at Terenure College
Provides detailed victim impact statements from the 22 February 2023 court hearing, confirms McClean pleaded guilty to 23 counts (21 indecent assault, 2 sexual assault) that day, notes he has 96 previous convictions, and records the adjournment for sentencing to 24 February 2023.
suspect, John McClean, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, Paul Kennedy, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Kennedy - 23 Feb2023‘May you rot in hell’: Victims speak in court after ex-rugby coach admits sexual abuse of boys
Adds details of victim impact statements read in court, including Paul Kennedy's account of grooming after his father's terminal cancer diagnosis and another victim's direct address to McClean; confirms McClean was arraigned on 23 counts and that sentencing was adjourned to 24 February.
accused, John McClean, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McCleanvictim, Paul Kennedy, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Kennedy - 23 Feb2023‘You stole my innocence’: Victim of John McClean waives right to anonymity
Provides Paul Kennedy's full victim impact statement, including his waiver of anonymity, details of how McClean groomed him after his father's terminal cancer diagnosis, and the impact of the abuse over nearly 50 years. Confirms the arraignment on 23 counts and the January guilty pleas to four further counts.
victim, Paul Kennedy, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Paul Kennedyconvicted, John McClean, 78, male, named, irish (judged from name)John McClean