Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/FabrikaSimf

Former GAA coach sentenced to seven years for dozens of sexual assaults on boys

Ronan McCormack abused one of the boys at least 60 to 100 times.

A SLIGO FARMER has been jailed for seven years for dozens of indecent assaults on two young boys in the 1970s.

Former Gaelic football coach Ronan McCormack (75) went on to groom and abuse schoolboys as young as ten in the 1980s. In 2014 he received a seven-year-and-ten-month jail sentence for these assaults.

Earlier this year, a jury convicted him of 14 counts of indecently assaulting two boys who were aged between seven and 13.

McCormack, a father of three and farmer from Cloonloo, Co Sligo had pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of indecent assault of one boy on various locations on dates between June 1972 and March 1975.

He also denied three counts of indecently assaulting a second boy on dates between August 1972 and December 1973.

The men came forward in 2014 after learning that McCormack had gone on to abuse other boys.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan said that by his own conservative estimate, McCormack had abused one of the victims in this case between 60 and 100 times.

The abuse took place in the child’s family home, in the passenger seat of his car and in a local cinema. The victim described the abuse as “a ritual”.

Judge Nolan said this was a pattern of abuse over a long period of time. He said McCormack’s behaviour was gravely reprehensible and said he showed no regard for the well-being of his victims.

Reading his victim impact statement, the first victim told the court that he was eleven when the abuse began. He said the abuse affected his grades in school and “may have prevented me from reaching my full potential”.

It caused him to later become confused about his sexual orientation, which he found distressful. He said the abuse left him feeling soiled and like “damaged goods”.

He later suffered years of depression and missed career and relationship opportunities. He said he still suffers nightmares about the abuse and often wakes up with a strong smell of his abuser’s body odour.

The man said that for a long time he unfairly blamed his parents, but they were unaware and had been hoodwinked and manipulated by McCormack.

He said his own inaction in reporting McCormack “will prey on my mind for some time”.

“He has never offered an apology or shown any remorse,” the man said.

In August 1972, McCormack began abusing a second boy, who was known to the first victim. He molested this victim on three occasions.

In his statement, this man said that the abuse had left him with a lasting sense of insecurity. He said he feels extremely distrustful of people and of friendship because he believes people might have ulterior motives.

Read: Pregnant woman sacked by Wrights of Howth restaurant receives €15k compensation

Read: Mother-of-three forwarded child pornography clip in ‘remarkably unusual’ case

Close
33 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:07 PM

    Seven years what a joke

    231
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt Connolly
    Favourite Matt Connolly
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:14 PM

    @Casper: Can only sentence what the max was at the time of the offence, in the 70′s.

    Legislation allows for bigger sentences now.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:19 PM

    @Matt Connolly: well if that’s the case the law needs to be changed to allow for bigger sentences, it don’t matter what decade it was or is it still has the same impact on its victims and society as a whole.

    117
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute the phantom
    Favourite the phantom
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:25 PM

    @Casper: agreed. It must be possible to classify violent rapists (those proven to ever have offended) as on-going dangers to society and jail them at the discretion of the minister for justice.
    Could even apply to people who committed such acts abroad. Not a bad way to keep out people who have done so in other countries too.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:38 PM

    @Casper: it is my understanding that the judge made this 7 year sentence run consecutively to the 7 year and 10 months sentence he is already serving which is right and proper

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:44 PM

    @John O’Neill: well that’s good to know

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dean Moriarity
    Favourite Dean Moriarity
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:34 PM

    Parents should be very wary of letting their kids play GAA. Far too much of this going on under the county banner.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    @Dean Moriarity: don’t be silly you can’t paint every one with the one brush, lots of good people give of their time to these clubs day in and day out and well done to their commitment, but clubs do have a duty of care to make sure that volunteers are vetted and provided training in child protection

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cultural Marxist
    Favourite Cultural Marxist
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Casper: That’s what they used to say about the Catholic Church until the full extent of the paedophilia and cover up was revealed. The GAA is run along the same lines, unquestioning loyalty to the parish coach who has access to children via a position of trust. This is only the tip of the iceberg in the GAA.

    58
    See 12 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: well if that’s true I would assume its historical, I don’t believe that would be the case in this day and age, and I hope that people keep coming forward and put their perpetrators behind bars where they belong

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cultural Marxist
    Favourite Cultural Marxist
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Casper: Agreed.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Blackcat
    Favourite Thomas Blackcat
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 6:15 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Not happening now? That’s what the RCC and GAA swore then….and it’s still happening. People are both blind and stupid…..

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Casper
    Favourite Casper
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 6:35 PM

    @Thomas Blackcat: sounds like you have some information or evidence of serious crimes if you do you better take it to the Garda, and if you don’t stop blowing smoke out of your arse

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Muller
    Favourite Ray Muller
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Perverts will infiltrate any organisation that will provide cover for their despicable criminal acts. Being a cultural Marxist perhaps you are aware of Bella Dodd?
    “In the late 1920′s and 1930′s, directives were sent from Moscow to all Communist Party organizations. In order to destroy the Catholic Church from within, party members were to be planted in seminaries and within diocesan organizations,” Dodd stated according to the affidavit.She also stated in her book “school of darkness” that “The homosexual and heretical pollution of the priesthood was deliberate and long in the making” and that she herself under orders placed over 1100 deviants into the church to destroy it from within?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cultural Marxist
    Favourite Cultural Marxist
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @Ray Muller: Calling gay people perverts and deviant, you must be a Catholic yourself. When you graduate from primary school you may also learn that there is no link between sexual orientation and paedophilia, that is why your priests molested young girls as well as boys.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Muller
    Favourite Ray Muller
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 9:32 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Of course there isn’t, but there is a historically connection with pederastry, or man and boy, which is what apparently occurred in this case. Its also a tag peculiar that the world leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ray Muller
    Favourite Ray Muller
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 9:40 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Of course there isn’t, but there is a historical connection, Romans and Greeks with pederastry, or man and boy depravity, which is what apparently what transpired in this case.
    Its also a tag peculiar that the world’s leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is. The truth shouldn’t offend anyone?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sinead Hanley
    Favourite Sinead Hanley
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 10:10 PM

    @Casper: My young fella plays hurling and as far as i am aware, there is no garda vetting (at our local club anyway). I often help out at things and no one has ever asked me to get garda vetted. The local parish council asked me to do some readings at the church regularly. And i had to be garda vetted. Its extremely strict at the church and so it should be with their disastrous record. So i do feel there is a risk at my GAA club that i didnt consider. Though i do accompany my son to ALL matches/training.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jumperoo
    Favourite Jumperoo
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 11:25 PM

    @Sinead Hanley: Garda vetting is a requirement for all coaches and others involved with underage GAA teams, and has been for years. I don’t know to what extent you help out yourself, but maybe not to that degree? Would find it unlikely that your club doesn’t comply at all. Either way, it would probably be better for you to ask a club official than to throw such probably unfounded accusations around online.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sinead Hanley
    Favourite Sinead Hanley
    Report
    Nov 11th 2017, 1:11 AM

    @Jumperoo: The fact is that even though my club are probably complying (as you say) with garda vetting etc, i as a parent have not been made aware of it. My son is with his club for 3 years since he was 4 and i have never heard a word about child “safety” except for the cul camps. I am not suggesting any problems with child safety but i think its important that the GAA highlight their stance from now on. I was taken aback when i read this article cos i hasnt considered it. Though i always accompany my child. There is a framed poster in our church for safety officers/people for children if u are concerned. Its not in our gaa club.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gearoidín Ní Fhiách
    Favourite Gearoidín Ní Fhiách
    Report
    Nov 11th 2017, 3:05 AM

    @Sinead Hanley: Sinead, there is a legal requirement on every GAA club to have every coach, trainer or manager Garda Vetted. They are also obliged to undertake a Child a Protection course of which this subject matter is the primary focus. They must also undertake various coaching courses, but the first, the Garda Vetting is essential. It would not be possible to have every single person who turns up at a pitch checked, many are parents like yourself etc. Think about it. If your child is at a game and you’ve arranged another parent to take them home, and something sinister were to occur, there is nothing the GAA club could do to prevent that, if you follow. But a good club will take all and any precautions to ensure those with the closet contact yo kids, are safe. That said, these predators will always find a way. Can’t keep kids locked away, just in case.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MacEochagain
    Favourite MacEochagain
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 6:13 PM

    More silence from Croke Park. They need to come out and reassure people things are done properly these days…. they had more to say about a certain testimonial dinner last week!

    #headinthesand

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean @114
    Favourite Sean @114
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 7:39 PM

    @MacEochagain: this is happening everywhere. The aggressive atheists will tell you that the abusers all have white collars. Anywhere where adults are exposed to kids this can happen. All coaches are Garda vetted but this means little unless you have a record. I’m not sure what any organisation can say unless it’s a token apology. This is a societal issue.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Huban
    Favourite Gavin Huban
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 7:47 PM

    @Sean @114: societal problem caused by years of religious repression…..

    10
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cultural Marxist
    Favourite Cultural Marxist
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 8:34 PM

    @Sean @114: What’s an ‘aggressive atheist’? Is it someone who shouts at nothing?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MacEochagain
    Favourite MacEochagain
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 9:23 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: it’s a first cousin of a cultural Marxist.. ..

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean @114
    Favourite Sean @114
    Report
    Nov 11th 2017, 12:52 AM

    @Gavin Huban: years of sexual repression maybe.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    That sentence is a joke! Three times that sentence would be a joke. Turns my stomach.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul O Riordan
    Favourite Paul O Riordan
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    Appalling behavior from someone in a position of trust. His children are probably victims also. No winners

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute @mdmak33
    Favourite @mdmak33
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 6:03 PM

    Its time sentences were changed, instead of protecting these people.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian O Reilly
    Favourite Brian O Reilly
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 8:41 PM

    A pompous self denying paedophile ,No remorse ,no remission ,

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Freecakes
    Favourite Freecakes
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 10:59 PM

    The Journal, I often wonder why you even bother with images. Why not show a photo of this s*umbag – we already have his name – so we know what he looks like when he gets parole in a few years.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Byrne
    Favourite Martin Byrne
    Report
    Nov 10th 2017, 11:57 PM

    @Freecakes: to protect his victims?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds