'Your evil has been exposed': Victims of paedophile Christian Brother ask court to lift name ban

David Raleigh

Two men faced an “evil” paedophile Christian Brother in court, who had abused them when they were children, and told him the sexual assaults were his “shame”, not theirs.

The two men informed the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court that they wished to retain their right to anonymity, but that they wanted the court to lift a ban on the media reporting the “evil” defendant’s identity.

The court heard the defendant had pleaded not guilty to a total of 11 counts of indecently assaulting the two boys on different dates in the 1980s, and following a trial, a jury found him guilty on seven of the counts and not guilty on four counts.

The court heard the defendant “befriended” the families of the two boys before going on to sexually assault them separately by encouraging them to masturbate and then getting them individually to masturbate him.

The defendant lay naked behind one of the boys and attempted to put his erect penis in between the cheeks of his bottom before he ejaculated on the boy, it was heard.

The sex assaults took place at various locations, including at a monastery, at the defendant’s mother’s home, and at a school.

The defendant was aged in his 30s and the boys were aged between 12 and 14 at the time. The two victims individually made complaints to gardai in 2020 and 2022, the court heard.

On two occasions the defendant, who later left the religious order, kissed one of the boys, including on one occasion when he pinned the boy to a wall, and on another occasion when he and the boy were inside in a boiler house.

Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State Solicitor, Brendan Gill, said the defendant had been “implicitly trusted” by the boys’ families after he befriended them and groomed the boys individually.

The two boys, now in their 50s, told the court how the sexual assaults had destroyed their childhood and haunted them into their adulthood.

“Everyday, memories, that I don’t want, infiltrate my psyche and have stolen my sense of safety, trust and peace, and, like a shadow they have followed me through school, relationships, work, and moments I should have enjoyed,” one said.

The man said the defendant was a “persevering predatory paedophile” whose abuse made him suffer “anxiety, self loathing, and a relenting sense of worthlessness”.

“These are not just scars of the past, they are open wounds, they are every thought, every sleepless night.”

“Forty years is a lifetime, and I spent decades trying to heal, but, in truth, there is no undoing what was done.”

Turning to the defendant, the man told him: “You stole my childhood, my innocence, my ability to like myself.”

Asking the court to impose an immediate custodial sentence, the man said: “There was no leniency availed to me by the perpetrator, thus I believe leniency should not be afforded to the perpetrator who preyed upon a child”.

The second victim addressed the defendant in court and told him: “I was an innocent thirteen year old boy, you manipulated access to me by befriending my parents, and you used your position to get their trust, and you then used me for your sexual gratification.”

“You changed me from a happy, talkative child, to someone more introverted who had to deal with shame and guilt, huge fear; and the effects of it have followed me my entire adult life,” he said.

The two victims said their personal relationships with their loved ones and friends had suffered due to the abuse they endured.

One of the victims told the defendant: “Each day I battle with the demons of your abuse, which has led me to depression. To cope, I have attended years of therapy, and require daily medication.”

“You refuse to accept responsibility for your abuse of me, but, the truth is out and I will no longer hold your secret.”

“My 13-year old self has been acknowledged and believed, and I can now rest easy, knowing I did nothing wrong and that your evil has been exposed.”

“I am a survivor of your sexual abuse, but at 56 years of age, I am finally free from your clutches and I can now live my life with my head held high.”

Mark Nicholas, senior counsel for the defendant, told the court “there was obviously a breach of trust” by his client.

Judge Colin Daly said he would pass sentence in March. The judge said he would make a decision then, in relation to the victims request that reporting restrictions be lifted in respect of the defendant’s identity.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.