A 75-YEAR-OLD former Christian Brother who admitted indecently assaulting six pupils at two different Dublin schools over 40 years ago has had his sentencing adjourned until July.
Diarmuid Ó Luanaigh, with an address at Bettyglen, Raheny, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 10 charges of indecent assault of the children in two schools on dates between September 1965 and April 1972.
Garda Michael Lally told Patrick McGrath, prosecuting, that Ó Luanaigh worked as a primary-level maths teacher in one school where four of the assaults took place between 1965 and 1972.
One victim told gardaí that, while he was between the ages of eight and 10, Ó Luanaigh would call him to the front of the class and sit him on his knee. The victim told gardaí that Ó Luanaigh would then put his hands up his shorts and fondle his private parts.
The victim said that other children present in class could not see the abuse and that he believed he was getting special treatment from Ó Luanaigh for being a good pupil.
The man said that it was when he reached adolescence that he realised what had occurred was wrong and that he gained the courage to tell his story decades later after having viewed a television programme uncovering abuse in the Catholic Church.
Garda Lally told Mr McGrath that when Ó Luanaigh, who was known as Brother Cyril, became principal of a secondary school in 1970, he continued to abuse children in the classroom as well as those he coached after taking charge of the school football team.
Garda Lally agreed with Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, that Ó Luanaigh has lead “a blameless life” since leaving the Christian brothers in 1972.
Mr Hartnett told the court that Ó Luanaigh, who went on to marry and have three children after reneging his vows of his own volition, had profusely apologised to his victims and has expressed a high degree of remorse.
He said that Ó Luanaigh joined the Christian Brothers at the age of 13 and was effectively isolated from the outside world until adulthood.
Mr Hartnett said that Ó Luanaigh, who kept his eyes closed while evidence was heard in the case, also suffered with stress and depression and had a heart difficulty.
He described the case as “one of the oldest” to come before the courts in 10 or 15 years.
Judge Katherine Delahunt remanded Ó Luanaigh on bail for sentencing on July 13th.
He has been placed on the sex offenders register.