ANTRIM (UNITED KINGDOM)
Irish Times [Dublin, Ireland]
March 11, 2025
By Paul Ainsworth
Former pupils of a late Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse have questioned why a church apology did not contain details of the “evil” cleric’s time as a teacher in Co Antrim.
Fr Patrick O’Neill, who died in 2009, was the subject of a statement last month by Down and Connor Bishop Alan McGuckian.
Fr O’Neill was “stepped aside” from his ministry in the Co Down parish of Ardkeen in 2004 following an allegation of abuse, and the bishop said it was a matter of “deep regret” that the diocese did not at the time issue a drafted statement that would have “empowered other victims to come forward”.
Bishop McGuckian said he became aware of an allegation made recently about Fr O’Neill, and referred to the “similarly credible” accusation in 2004 that prompted the draft statement which was never issued.
The bishop also said allegations of sexual abuse of adults, manipulation and abuse of power were made against Fr O’Neill, relating to the 1970s-1990s, received by the diocese in the mid-2000s, and reported to the PSNI.
The Public Prosecution Service declined bringing charges against Fr O’Neill in 2005, and he remained “permanently out of ministry” until his death.
However, two pupils of the former St MacNissi’s College in Carnlough have questioned why the bishop’s statement did not include details of Fr O’Neill’s time as a French teacher and ‘Dean of Discipline’ at the school, which was also known as Garron Tower, in the 1970s.
Bishop McGuckian is himself a former pupil of Garron Tower, which is now called St Killian’s College following a merger in 2010.
The ex-pupils – who attended in the 1970s and wish to remain anonymous – said that although they were unaware of any sexual abuse, Fr O’Neill was feared by pupils as a “monster” who carried out daily physical attacks.
The alleged physical abuse occurred when corporal punishment was legal, but Fr O’Neill dealt out attacks “far beyond” what was expected, the former pupils said, adding that even other teachers were “afraid” of him.
One said of the bishop’s apology: “It didn’t give any clarity over where Fr O’Neill was based throughout his time as a priest. This should have been included if there is regret about a previous failure over ‘empowering’ other victims to come forward.
“I know of a number of people who have contacted the diocese to see if this Fr O’Neill is the same one who was in Garron Tower in the 1970s.
“People are appalled that the statement didn’t reveal where he was based.”
Describing the fear among pupils over the cleric, the ex-pupil, now in his sixties, said: “Fr O’Neill was an evil b****** who beat the s*** out of people, and even other priests were afraid of him.
“I witnessed things that will live with me for the rest of my life. He went far beyond what was acceptable even at that time.
“Thankfully I was only on the receiving end of his flipper (leather strap). When I saw the article about the bishop’s statement, it raked up a lot of memories of Fr O’Neill.
“He left very mysteriously in 1979. He wasn’t there at the start of term and it was never talked about.”
Upon leaving Garron Tower, Fr O’Neill served at St John’s Parish in west Belfast, Rathlin Island, Cargin near Toomebridge, and Lisburn before moving to his final role at Ardkeen.
The second former pupil said of Fr O’Neill: “The guy was a monster, a complete bully – he terrorised the school.
“I remember seeing him punch a pupil hard in the face one day, and he prevented others from going to his aid after he fell.
“You knew he was coming down the corridor when you heard the silence fall. He would often walk with a bottle of ink and chalk balanced on a clipboard held like a tray. If you walked by him and the ink spilled or the chalk fell off, then you were getting a beating.”
He added: “If the diocese wants more victims of this man to come forward, then they should have been clearer as to where he worked.”
Both former pupils also allege Fr O’Neill, who was often nicknamed ‘Sheen the Dean’ – thought to be a reference to Mr Sheen polish and “cleaning” up the school – would occasionally wander the school grounds with a shotgun.
In his apology, Bishop McGuckian said the diocese was “committed in working to support those individuals who have been abused by Fr O’Neill”.
A spokesperson for Down and Connor told The Irish News: “The diocese encourages anyone who has concerns, suspicions or allegations of abuse to come forward and to report that abuse to the statutory authorities or to the Diocese of Down and Connor Safeguarding Office on 028 9049 2798.”