A former Church of Ireland lay worker has apologised to 14 boys he abused while he was a volunteer at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Patrick O’Brien of Knocklyon Road, Templeogue in Dublin will be sentenced next month for more than 50 charges dating as far back as 1974.

An engineer by profession, Patrick O’Brien also carried out some voluntary work at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.

The court heard he used to hand out leaflets and would usher people to their seats for services.

It was here he befriended his victims either directly or through their parents.

One boy, who was nine when he was first abused in 1983, said it happened after his parents allowed him go on a day trip to Kildare.

One of O’Brien’s victims was just five.

The abuse spanned five decades from 1974 to 2013 and took place at various locations in Dublin, Meath, Westmeath and Laois.

The court heard he abused his victims iin his car, his Dublin office, on his boat and one of the boys was indecently assaulted in the cathedral.

In a short letter read out today, O’Brien apologised for any distress caused and he said no words could convey the extent of his sorrow and regret.

Judge Melanie Greally will hand down sentence on November 10.