Cops Probe Abuse of 12 Kids in St Patrick’s Cathedral

Sunday World
July 1, 2014

http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/crime-desk/cops-probe-abuse-of-12-kids-in-st-patrick-s-cathedral

Patrick O’Brien at car rally

This is the sports car enthusiast at the centre of a massive probe into child sex abuse in St Patrick’s Cathedral which is set to rock the Church of Ireland.

Patrick O’Brien looks like a kind, mild-mannered grandfather outside his home in a leafy suburb of south Dublin last week.

Unknown to his neighbours, the 75-year-old is under investigation by Gardai after being accused of a range of sex crimes by up to 12 people.

It is not the first time the retired business executive has come to the attention of the Gardai for alleged sex crimes – and was the subject of a child sex probe in 1989.

The allegations against O’Brien are set to rock the Church of Ireland (COI) because, it is claimed, he targeted his victims while working as a volunteer in the world famous St Patrick’s Cathedral.

The Protestant cathedral is one of the city’s most famous and iconic buildings and is a popular tourist destination.

But now a number of civil actions have been launched against the board of the Cathedral – implicating the COI in the child sex abuse scandals for the first time.

Gardai have taken statements from up to a dozen men who allege they were abused by O’Brien and a file is currently with the DPP in relation to the matter.

A source has told the Sunday World that O’Brien was nicknamed the ‘Bluebird Man’ by his alleged victims because of the expensive classic car he drove. Up until recently, the alleged sex offender was the chairman of the MG Enthusiasts Club of Ireland and has a lifelong interest in classic British convertible cars.

When confronted at his home in Knocklyon, south Dublin, about the investigation, O’Brien admitted he had been arrested by gardai.

“That doesn’t matter, I have not been charged with anything,” he said.

He refused to confirm or deny that he had been investigated for child sex offences in the 80s, saying: “It depends on where you got your information. I’m going to inform the guards you were here.”

When asked if he had committed the crimes that he has been linked with, he said: “I’m not saying anything, I will inform the guards.”

A source close to one of O’Brien’s alleged victims claimed he got access to them by befriending their parents.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

He was involved in a number of community groups, as well as church groups, which gave him access to young boys.

At the time, O’Brien worked as a manager for a company involved in the production and sale of equipment for use in construction.

A number of people have claimed they were abused by O’Brien at a location on the northside of Dublin.

The source said: “In the early 1980s he used to live in Drimnagh and he used to give people lifts in his car to St Patrick’s.

“He was outwardly a pleasant man and would befriend the parents of local children who were in the Church of Ireland. He was involved in fundraising and was on a number of committees in St Patrick’s. He was famous because of his car.”

However, O’Brien’s harmless facade was allegedly shattered when one teenager told his parents he had been abused by him years earlier. The boy – who was then in his mid to late teens – subsequently went to the Gardai.

In 1989, detectives investigated the case and, it is claimed the COI officials were made aware of the allegations.

But one source has told the Sunday World that he was back volunteering with the St Patrick’s Cathedral shortly after the investigation concluded.

He claimed that church officials allowed O’Brien to continue to work with kids for years in a voluntary capacity despite being aware of these allegations.

It is believed that the COI dispute this version of events.

Unlike the Catholic Church, the Protestant churches in Ireland have avoided any child sex abuse scandals.

But now the Church of Ireland is potentially facing a massive compensation bill after a group decided to sue them over O’Brien’s alleged crimes.

In 2013, legal papers were lodged in the High Court suing the Board and Chapter of the National and Collegiate Church of St Patrick’s Dublin.

It is believed that St Patrick’s Cathedral is denying liability, claiming that no abuse took place on its property.

The Cathedral is believed to have cut ties with O’Brien more than a decade ago following repeated complaints from one of his alleged victims.

Last night, a spokesman for St Patrick’s Cathedral told the Sunday World: “St Patrick’s Cathedral has received allegations of historical abuse involving children, made against an individual who formerly worshipped in the Cathedral.

“The individual is not a past or present employee or a member of the clergy or the Cathedral Board. The members of the Board are deeply concerned by the nature of these allegations.

“The Cathedral Board takes the issue extremely seriously and the matter was reported to An Garda Siochana and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

“The Cathedral Board has been engaging fully with these authorities. The Church of Ireland seeks to ensure the safety and welfare of children at all times across all its churches.”

O’Brien – who is now retired – has been spending most of his time in retirement organising events as chairman of the MG Enthusiasts Club (MGEC) at rallies in the U.K. and across Ireland. None of the current allegations being investigated relate to the club or its events.

These exclusive images show O’Brien mixing freely with young kids on the group’s website.

A source said a text was sent on July 29, 2013, to a number of members of the MGEC warning them that there was an alleged child sex offender in their group.

It read: “Hi, I am just writing to you in relation to Pat (Patrick) O’Brien. He is a convicted paedophile and has a number of further outstanding cases that are being investigated by [gardai].

“It is important you let everybody know to protect the children and also the good standing of the MG Club. This is not malicious text but a very real warning.”

However, last night a spokesman for the MG Enthusiasts Club Ireland insisted he knew nothing about the allegations facing O’Brien.