THE DEPARTMENT OF Justice has confirmed that the gardaí, Health Service Executive and Department of Education are reviewing any records held in relation to suspected abuser Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí.
In the Seanad today, junior minister John Perry made a statement on behalf of Minister for Justice Alan Shatter about reports of alleged sexual offences by the Coláiste & Cumann na bhFiann founder.
The deputy said the recent reports about Ó Lubhlaí, who is the subject of TG4 documentary examining claims that he may have abused up to 100 boys in the 1970s and 1980s, echo other cases where children were abused by people in positions of authority.
The allegations date back to 1955. The founder of the popular Irish summer college Coláiste na bhFiann was also known as ‘Donal Lovely’.
Perry confirmed that Shatter has received a preliminary report from Garda authorities concerning the criminal investigations that took place in relation to allegations.
“As has been widely report,” he said, “in 1997 a criminal investigation was instigated into allegations of instances of sexual abuse committed against various children and young persons and the person in question was arrested in connection with offences in February 1999.”
A file was forwarded to the DPP, who directed that the accused be prosecuted for numerous counts of sexual offences.
A prosecution was initiated in March 2000 and the teacher was brought before Mullingar District Court, charged with 56 counts of buggery and indecent assault. A trial involving 11 victims was due to be heard in 2002. However, the the case never went ahead because of a legal challenge by the defendant. According to Perry, the reasons related to delay in the bringing of complaints.
More recently, another victim had been preparing to make an official statement but this had not been completed before the accused’s death in March this year.
Gardaí are continuing to liaise with the injured party, who is believed to have been 13 years old when the abuse took place in the 1970s. Concerns expressed by another person were also being examined by gardaí at the time of Ó Lubhlaí’s death.
The Department of Justice understands that An Garda Síochána is carrying out a review of the procedures surrounding the handling of the complaints and subsequent investigations “to see if any lessons can be learned”.
The HSE is also to examine if any contact was made with it about the allegations, while the Department of Education is also looking at its records to establish if child protection concerns were raised in relation to the Irish and religion teacher – and if anything was done if so.
Responding to the issue raised by Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Perry said Shatter “regrets greatly the dreadful experience endured” by victims.
“It is the Minister’s view that it is incumbent on any organisation which may have been used by a person to facilitate their evil deeds to examine carefully how this may have occurred and make sure that its procedures will not allow it to recur. For the present, the Minister believes that the reviews which are underway should be allowed to proceed and their results considered carefully, so that we may see what lessons can be learned to further strengthen child protection arrangements.”
The Minister for Justice has also urged victims to come forward and avail of services offered by voluntary groups and the HSE. He also expressed his sincere sympathy to the survivors.
You can contact your nearest Rape Crisis Network Ireland centre by visiting its website.
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