Update 5.40pm: The Church of Ireland has said it commends the courage of abuser Patrick O’Brien’s victims in coming forward.
In a statement issued this evening it said St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, and the wider Church of Ireland community have been deeply dismayed at the nature and extent of the offences which have been brought to light in this case.
Court report:
A former Church of Ireland lay worker has been jailed for 13 years for abusing 14 young boys between 1974 and 2014.
77-year-old Patrick O’Brien of Knocklyon Road, Templeogue in Dublin and a former volunteer at St Patrick’s Cathedral, pleaded guilty to over 50 charges of indecent and sexual assault.
Some of his victims returned to court this afternoon to watch him being jailed. Their loved ones filled the public gallery, while he sat alone in the dock with nobody there to support him.
Between 1974 and 2014, he abused 14 boys – some as young as seven.
Many were abused at St Patrick’s Cathedral where he volunteered for the Church of Ireland; others at his workplace, his car, his boat and in their bedrooms while their parents were nearby.
He enticed the younger boys with sweets and drinks and trips away and groomed the older ones with driving lessons or money for cigarettes and alcohol.
He got away with it for so long by warning them to keep it a secret, leaving them feeling guilty and isolated.
Judge Melanie Greally described his actions as manipulative and predatory and considered his breach of trust as a significant aggravating factor.
The 77-year-old was then handed a 13-year prison sentence.
Afterwards, Detective Superintendent Declan Daly from the Garda National Protection Services Bureau praised the victims for coming forward: “I’d simply like to commend the bravery of all the victims in this case,
“They have gone through what is a harrowing and difficult case and I hope their bravery will send a message to all other victims who may come forward in historical cases and report their complaints on An Garda Siochana.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this report, please contact the 24-hour Childline helpline on 1800 666 666, or text ‘talk’ to 50101, or go to Childline.ie
