By Kathryn Hayes
Irish Times
November 24, 2009
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1124/1224259338342.html
A FORMER Christian Brother who indecently assaulted 19 young boys at a national school in the 1960s was moved to another school after the abuse came to light, a court has heard.
Seán John Drummond, Broadford Drive, Ballinteer, Dublin had his name placed on the sex offenders register last June after he pleaded guilty to 36 separate charges arising out of incidents involving boys as young as eight.
The 61-year-old admitted indecently assaulting 19 boys at Creagh Lane national school, in Bridge Street, Limerick, on dates unknown between July 1st, 1967 and July 31st, 1968.
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| Former Christian Brother Sean John Drummond at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to assaulting 19 boys at a national school in the 1960s. Photo by Brendan Crowe |
One of the assaults happened at the Féile Luimnigh festival at a city theatre on the same dates.
During the sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday, Judge Carroll Moran heard details of victim impact statements made by the injured parties, 11 of whom were present in court.
Judge Moran was told that a number of the victims have suffered from alcohol, drug, relationship and learning difficulties as a result of the assaults.
The court heard a Garda investigation was launched after two of the victims met up in 1999 and discussed what had happened.
A complaint was first made to gardaí in 2002 and all 55 pupils from the class were subsequently contacted, the court heard.
In their statements to gardaí, the injured parties claimed Drummond, who left the Christian Brothers in 1970, had touched their private parts on a number of occasions while he was their teacher in second class.
The court heard that this would take place when a pupil was called to Drummond's desk at the top of the classroom and while the rest of the pupils were given other work to do.
Two of the victims told gardaí that Drummond, who was 19 at the time of the offences, used to drop a coin inside their clothing so he would have an opportunity to touch them.
The court heard that one of the boys told his father about what had happened, and that after the father alerted the school, Drummond was moved to a more senior class and then on to another school in August 1969.
The 61-year-old, who is married with five grown up children, left the Christian Brothers the following year in March 1970, the court heard.
Fergal Rooney, senior psychologist at the Granada Institute, told the court that Drummond was just 14 when he joined the Christian Brothers, and at 16 he was introduced to the practice of self-flagellation and public confession.
The witness said the teenager had picked up many negative messages about sexuality and was forced to ignore normal sexual urges of an adolescent boy.
Mr Rooney said he had carried out a psychological and risk assessment of the accused, whom he described as being in the low range risk of reoffending.
Aileen Donnelly SC, defending, told the court that her client's family were present in court and were supporting him, but said they did not condone what had happened.
She said Drummond had himself as a child joined an organisation that "seemed to be quite inadequate when it came to matters of sexuality".
Ms Donnelly said her client, a retired assistant librarian at UCD, was deeply ashamed of his behaviour and ashamed of the effect it has had on the lives of the victims in the case and on his own family.
Judge Moran said it was a difficult case, for which he had to find the appropriate punishment.
Judge Moran said he appreciated that all of the parties involved wanted finality sooner rather than later, but said there was quite a number of matters for him to consider.
He adjourned sentencing until December 9th next.
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