January 20, 2005

Former brother is guilty of assault

IRELAND
One in Four

Marese McDonagh - Irish Times

A former Marist brother was yesterday found guilty of 180 counts of indecent assaults against six young boys at a Sligo national school in the 1960s and 1970s. He will be sentenced next March.

A jury of eight women and four men unanimously convicted Christopher Cosgrove (61), Ballyhaunis Road, Claremorris, Co Mayo, after considering their verdict for two hours and 45 minutes. Judge Anthony Kennedy adjourned sentencing until the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court and he remanded the accused on bail.

Commenting that Cosgrove was undoubtedly facing a custodial sentence, the judge ordered that he sign on at Claremorris Garda Station twice a week until sentence is imposed.

During the five-day trial it emerged that two other teachers at St John'sAbuse Tracker School, Temple Street, Sligo, had recently pleaded guilty to sexually abusing pupils there.

Cosgrove, who spent 20 years as a Marist brother from 1962 to 1982, denied the charges.

Posted by kshaw at January 20, 2005 07:07 AM