Gallery of Photographs Relating to the Case of Brendan Smyth, O.Praem.

Gallery of Photographs Relating to the Case of Brendan Smyth, O.Praem.

[Introduction with link to the chronology will go here.]

Rev. Brendan Smyth, O.Praem., born John Gerard Smith in Belfast on 6/8/27 and sometimes called Father Gerry, sexually abused hundreds of children, girls and boys, during his nearly 50-year career.

Smyth began his studies for the priesthood at the Norbertines' Abbey of the Most Holy Trinity and St. Norbert (usually known as Holy Trinity Abbey) in Ballyjamesduff, Kilnacrott, in County Cavan. He was vested on 9/8/45 and professed on 9/8/47.

Smyth studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1947 to 1951 and earned an S.T.L degree.

Smyth was assigned to St. Columba's church in Annan, Scotland, in the Diocese of Galloway, from 1957 to 1959.

Smyth was assigned to St. Mary's Cathedral in Wrexham in the Diocese of Menevia, perhaps in 1958, and sexually abused altar boys there.

Smyth was assigned to Our Lady of Mercy church in East Greenwich, in the Diocese of Providence, as pastor and sole priest from 1965 to 1968. He sexually abused at least eight children in this parish.

As pastor, Smyth was much involved in the elementary school of Our Lady of Mercy parish, which was located across the street from the church and rectory. Smyth coached basketball in a gym that was housed in the school building, and he visited classes. Smyth sexually abused at least eight children during his assignment at this parish.

Smyth lived in this rectory, located to the left of Our Lady of Mercy church in East Greenwich RI.

Kathleen, Gerard, and Helen McGonigle in 1968 in East Greenwich CT, on the occasion of Helen's first communion. Courtesy of Helen McGonigle.

Smyth outside Our Lady of Mercy church in East Greenwich RI in 1966. Courtesy of Helen McGonigle.

Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott

Smyth sexually abused "Siobhan" repeatedly in a visiting room at Nazareth House orphanage on the Ormeau Road in South Belfast from 1968 to 1976, beginning at age 6; he sexually abused her brother Danny in the same room from 1968 to 1975, beginning at age 4. Siobhan was beaten and forced to kneel all night as punishment for complaining about the abuse.

Smyth sexually abused 13-year-old Sarah here in 1971, but she told the principal, Sr. Virgilius, and then her parents, who were told by the principal that higher Catholic authorities had been informed and that Smyth would be denied access to the school in the future; however, Smyth was allowed in the school in the early to mid-1980s, when he abused Susan there

Still from home movie of Smyth, apparently taken in West Belfast. Aired on UTV's Counterpoint program Suffer Little Children on October 6, 1994.

Still from home movie of Smyth, apparently taken in West Belfast. Aired on UTV's Counterpoint program Suffer Little Children on October 6, 1994.

Still from home movie of Smyth with a child, apparently taken in West Belfast after a Mass. Aired on UTV's Counterpoint program Suffer Little Children on October 6, 1994.

Smyth (right) was master of ceremonies at the 1971 ordination of Rev. Bruno Mulvihill, O.Praem., (left) who stated to Chris Moore in a 9/26/94 interview that he had taken the 1968 phone call from Bishop McVinney regarding sexual abuse in East Greenwich, and had seen in 1968 or 1969 the decree of the Congregation of Religious, restricting Smyth from hearing confessions or leaving the abbey precinct.

Abbot Kevin Smith of Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, in a photograph apparently taken in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Smith had been prior of the monastery from 1959 and abbot from 1969. Mulvihill, after his ordination, spoke to Smith about Smyth's abuse of children. Smith said Fr. Brednan had been penalized enough and was a good priest. Mulvihill spoke to Smith again in 1984 and wrote to him about Smith on November 9, 1985.

Smyth was sent in 1974 to Our Lady of Victory, a treatment facility run by the Servants of the Paraclete in Brownshill, near Stroud, in Gloucestershire, England, in the Diocese of Clifton.

Rubane House and chapel in Kircubbin, Co. Down, in the Diocese of Down & Connor. Smyth and other priests sexually abused Sam Adair here.

Smyth survivor Sam Adair at Rubane.

St. Alphonsus in Langdon ND in the Fargo diocese, where Smyth was pastor and sole priest 1979-1983 and sexually abused at least seven children.

St. Edward's church in Nekoma ND, a mission attended in 1981-1983 from St. Alphonsus church in Langdon ND, where Rev. Brendan Smyth, O.Praem., was pastor and sole priest.

Smyth sexually abused Susan at St. Dominic's school in Belfast in 1983-1985, although he was supposedly denied access to the school after Sarah's abuse was reported in 1971

Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott

Smyth worked as a locum chaplain at Tralee General Hospital in Kerry, in the Diocese of Kerry, for a total of about three months between 8/90 and 9/93. Abbot Smith approved this arrangement without revealing Smyth's history of child sexual abuse to the hospital, which had a pediatric unit. "Smyth acted as locum chaplain during August and September of 1990. He was back at Tralee General for six days the following November and for five days the next month. In August 1992 he was there for four days, and he spent a further three days at the hospital the following month. He was there again from February 17th to 20th 1993, and for one day in September of that year." (Parents asked to check on children's contacts with sex abuse priest, by Dick Hogan and John Maher, Irish Times, 10/13/94) During this time, Smyth was investigated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary, which had begun the investigation on 3/2/90, after learning of Smyth from a social worker, who had learned from Susan on 2/23/90 (Moore pp. 49-52); the RUC interviewed Smyth at the Grosvenor Road police station on 3/8/91 and charged him. He was released on £100 bail on that day and told to appear at a preliminary enquiry, where he would be formally charged. This enquiry was scheduled for 4/3/91, and then at Smyth's request was rescheduled, ultimately to 8/16/91. But when the RUC attempted repeatedly to contact Smyth at Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, to ensure his attendance at the enquiry, he never returned the messages they left. When he finally spoke with them, on 12/6/91, he indicated that he wouldn't be coming north "until way next year."

It was revealed by reporter Deborah Becker of WBUR in Boston that Smyth was given faculties by the Archdiocese of Boston to preach mission appeals at St. Camillus church in Arlington MA in the Boston archdiocese on August 3 and 4, 1991, after Smyth had been interviewed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary officers on 3/8/91 and charged, and while RUC officers were attempting to contact Smyth and arrange his attendance at his formal charging on 8/16/91, which he did not attend.

Smyth was assigned for three months as locum chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Cork, in the Diocese of Cork and Ross, from 9/20/93 to 12/19/93. (Moore, p. 194)

On January 21, 1994, Smyth traveled to Northern Ireland and turned himself in to the RUC. This is a still from a video probably filmed on that day. When images of Smyth's surrender were broadcast on Belfast TV, Smyth survivors began to come forward to UTV reporter Chris Moore.

Smyth and his Solicitor, Denis Moloney, shown on television on June 10, 1994 on their way to Crown Court in Belfast, where Smyth listened to the clerk read 17 charges of indecent assault of 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys, between March 1964 and December 1, 1988. Smyth pleaded guilty to each charge. (see Moore, p. 181) It is possible that this footage was taken several weeks later, on June 24, 1994, before Smyth's sentencing.

Whistleblower Rev. Bruno Mulvihill, O.Praem., interviewed in Augsburg by UTV's Chris Moore on September 26, 1994. The interview was broadcast on October 6, 1994 as part of Suffer Little Children on the Counterpoint program.

October 6, 1994 Title frame of the UTV documentary Suffer Little Children, reported by Chris Moore and broadcast in the Counterpoint series.

UTV journalist and author Chris Moore in front of St. Alphonsus church in Langdon ND, where Rev. Brendan Smyth, O.Praem., was pastor from 1979 to 1983. The photo is a still from the UTV documentary Suffer Little Children. Moore is taping on March 5, 1994. The program was broadcast in Northern Ireland on October 6, 1994. Smyth sexually abused at least seven children during his assignment in North Dakota.

Front and back covers of Chris Moore, Betrayal of Trust: The Brendan Smyth Affair and the Catholic Church (Dublin: Marino Books, 1995). The copy on the back cover reads: At the end of 1994, the Father Brendan Smyth affair brought shame on the Catholic church in Ireland and led directly to the fall of the Irish government. Television viewers grew to recognise the face of the paedophile priest who was sentenced in Belfast on seventeen counts of sexual abuse of children going back thirty years. Betrayal of Trust is the inside story of the Father Brendan Smyth affair, written by the individual who, more than anyone else, was responsible for breaking the story: UTV Counterpoint journalist Chris Moore. Betrayal of Trust is part riveting detective story, part disturbing account of crimes against children, as with Chris Moore we follow the trail of the paedophile priest throughout Ireland, in Italy and in America. But most of all it is a book that gives voice to those who were betrayed by a priest and by the religious leaders who shielded him.

Chris Moore is an award-winning UTV journalist based in Belfast.

Kevin Hegarty [who wrote the foreword] is a Catholic curate in County Mayo. He is the former editor of Intercom.

This important book is out of print, but used copies may be obtained from Amazon, Amazon UK, and Bookfinder.

Abbot Benjamin T. Mackin, O.Praem., abbot of St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere WI, who spoke at Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott on October 24, 1994, after Abbot Smith resigned, and took over from Abbot General van de Ven when he resigned. See the Norbertine's summary of Mackin's career. Mulvihill spoke with Mackin about abuse by Smyth in August 1984.

Harry Whelehan on November 17, 1994, the day that he resigned as President of the High Court.

Matthew Russell, the official in Whelehan's office who did not act on the Smyth extradition papers.

Taoiseach Albert Reynolds announced his resignation and that of his ministers on November 11, 1994.

Abbot General Marcel van de Ven, O.Praem., in a still from a video secretly filmed on October 9, 1995 by a Smyth survivor and broadcast on December 24, 1995 in Chris Moore's follow-up Counterpoint program, Keeping the Faith.

Smyth on March 21, 1997, entering Limavady court during his extradition to the Republic of Ireland.

Smyth during extradition on March 21, 1997.

On July 25, 1997, Smyth was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Judge Cyril Kelly. For the story of this photograph, taken by Steve Humphreys for the Irish Independent, see One moment in crime, by Mark Hilliard, Sunday Tribune, December 6, 2009.

Another photograph of Smyth, taken after on July 25, 1997, after he was sentenced in Four Courts in Dublin to 12 years in prison.

Smyth's grave at the Norbertine Abbey of the Holy Spirit and St. Norbert, Ballyjamesduff, Kilnacrott, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland

August 22, 1997 Smyth's grave at the Holy Trinity Abbey, Ballyjamesduff, Kilnacrott, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. This stone was added some months after the pre-dawn burial.

Sam Adair, a survivor of abuse by Smyth at Ruhane, at Holy Trinity Abbey in Kilnacrott, with the smaller headstone. Photo courtesy of Sam Adair.

Helen McGonigle at a press conference in Boston on December 27, 2009. McGonigle holds a photograph of herself taken at the time she was being molested by Smyth in East Greenwich RI.

Jeff Thomas at a press conference in front of Holy Cross cathedral in Boston on December 27, 2009. Thomas was sexually abused by Smyth in East Greenwich RI.