A former care worker from Dublin who worked in boys' homes yesterday admitted 25 sample charges of sexually abusing 10 boys at an orphanage in Kilkenny during the 1970s.
The offences took place at St Joseph's orphanage, a home run by the Sisters of Charity of Boys in Care. David Murray (50) also admitted nine charges of sexually abusing his two foster sons during the 1980s. They are now in their early 20s.
Murray had originally denied 271 charges but pleaded guilty yesterday to the 34 sample charges on the sixth day of the trial relating to his foster sons.
Prosecution counsel Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC said all 12 victims said they wanted Murray to be named in the media even though there was a chance his foster sons could be identified.
The guilty pleas to the sample counts were accepted on the basis that the entire evidence in relation to each victim would be opened to the court, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
Murray, of Millhill Park, Skerries, Co Dublin, was remanded in custody to December 17th for sentencing. Judge Joseph Mathews requested victim impact reports. "These pleas, however late, are a testimony to the character and courage of the victims," he said.
At the start of the case, legal representatives acting for the victims sought leave to take a note of the proceedings as civil proceedings have been instigated against Murray. Actions may also be taken against the nuns and the social services.
Murray pleaded guilty to buggery, gross indecency and indecent assault of the victims when they were young boys. A further sexual assault charge pending at District Court level will also be dealt with at the next hearing.
Last week Murray went on trial having pleading not guilty to 115 charges relating to his foster sons.
Both victims gave evidence of being abused as they accompanied Murray to weddings which he videotaped professionally. They also claimed that abuse, which Murray filmed, took place in the family home while their mother was visiting a relative. However, they alleged she was aware of the abuse. The court heard she once found all three naked in the living room performing a sexual act.
Some of the offences took place after Murray shot footage of them playing on a beach, in a park or on a treasure hunt. One of the victims agreed that he looked up to Murray and called him "father".
The witness identified video footage taken in the 1980s of himself running bare-chested on a beach to the soundtrack of Rod Stewart singing: "Do you think I'm sexy, do you like my body?" He said his foster father had told him to take off his top and dubbed on the soundtrack.
Defence counsel Mr Brendan Grogan SC asked about the defendant's wife, and the witness replied: "She was never my mother". He told the jury she had known about the abuse and on one occasion had walked in when it was happening. Murray said they were only joking and she didn't say anything about it again.
The witness agreed he was taking a civil action against Murray, but added: "It's the health board I'm after. They kept us away from our family for 20 years."
The court heard Murray had trained in St Joseph's and had worked in homes and hostels in Drogheda, Cork and Dublin.
On the fourth day of the trial Judge Mathews ruled that a statement Murray made to gardai could be admitted into evidence. Earlier the jury heard that Murray was questioned by gardai from both Dublin and Kilkenny following his arrest on March 25th, 1995.
No evidence was heard on the next day of the trial as talks took place between prosecution and defence counsel. When the court resumed yesterday morning, Murray pleaded guilty.