A Christian brother who sexually assaulted seven boys when he was teaching at a Kilkenny primary school over 40 years ago had also sexually abused another 22 boys, it can now be reported.
Martin O'Flaherty (73), of Rosmeen Gardens, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court earlier this year of 14 counts of indecent assault and one of attempted indecent assault of seven complainants on dates between 1978 and 1981.
O'Flaherty has stood trial on five previous occasions since 2022 and has 103 previous convictions for the indecent assault of 22 boys.
He is currently serving an effective sentence of eight years, two months and three weeks in relation to this offending, with an earliest release date in August 2028.
Reporting restrictions, which were in place to avoid prejudicing upcoming trials, have been lifted as no further matters are pending against O'Flaherty, the court was told on Friday by prosecuting senior counsel Bernard Condon.
Having heard the evidence, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a global five-year sentence in respect of O'Flaherty's offending against the seven injured parties in this case from the date of his conviction last month.
This means that O'Flaherty has now been convicted of sexual offending against 29 boys.
A member of the Christian brothers, O'Flaherty was a teacher at the CBS primary school, Stephen Street, Kilkenny, between 1976 and 1981.
Detective Sergeant James Neary told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that gardaí carried out a wide investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct at the school, with questionnaires issued to pupils who attended between 1976 and 1981.
Each of the seven victims in this case made statements of complaint, in the wake of completing these questionnaires.
All of them were taught by O'Flaherty, four while they were in fourth class and the others while they were in sixth class.
The abuse took the form of inappropriate touching, primarily after being called to O'Flaherty's desk at the front of the classroom to correct homework.
In relation to the attempted indecent assault, O'Flaherty put his finger in the waistband of the boy's trousers but did not touch his genital area.
Five victim impact statements were read to the court by Ms McGowan. They outlined the long-lasting effects of the abuse, including feelings of shame and guilt. They also described losing interest in their schoolwork and, later, difficulties in relationships.
"Altered my life forever"
One man said it was his first time coming across a Christian Brother, and he felt anxious seeing O'Flaherty dressed in his religious outfit.
He said that was the year that “altered my life forever” and taught him how to hate himself. He said he felt guilt and shame, believing he had attracted the abuse.
He said he had lost his faith in God as he couldn't believe a “man of God could make me feel this bad”.
He said he “kept this shameful secret hidden for 40 years” but hopes speaking his truth will set him free.
He said he has found his faith again but doesn't think O'Flaherty is ready to acknowledge the truth and seek redemption.
Another victim said he tried to catch O'Flaherty's eye while giving evidence, but he looked away “luxuriating hidden in the cloak of anonymity”.
But, he said O'Flaherty would be vilified, and he takes comfort from the fact that the “sentence administered by the court of public opinion will outlast your death”.
Another victim said he “ended up living a half-life” and has had “difficulty talking about what happened due to stigma”. He said he felt like he was “robbed” of a lot of happiness and the ability to be normal.
O'Flaherty cooperated with the investigation, but denied the allegations of abuse. He provided information about the school at the time, identified his handwriting in the roll books and said he recalled teaching some of the complainants.
Det Sgt Neary agreed with Ronan Kennedy SC, defending, that his client taught at other schools, and the only complaints made against him relate to his time in Kilkenny, which he left in 1981.
It was further accepted that O'Flaherty was cooperative with the investigation and had not come to other adverse attention.
Mr Kennedy told the court his client does not intend to appeal and hopes this will bring some sense of closure and, in time, comfort.
O'Flaherty joined the Christian Brothers as a teenager. He went on to work in several other schools throughout his career and has also worked in other areas, including in Christian Brother missions abroad.
A medical report was handed to the court, along with a reference. Mr Kennedy noted a governor's report states that his client has enhanced prisoner status, is in the training unit in Mountjoy Prison where he works in the kitchen and assists other prisoners.
Mr Kennedy asked the court to take into account his client's age, health issues and the difficulties faced by older people in custody.
He noted the passage of time since these offences occurred and that it appears his client has “led an otherwise exemplary life” devoted to the service of others.
Mr Kennedy said his client is on the sex offenders' register and will have to live with the stigma of his conviction and social ostracisation for the rest of his life.
Judge Sheahan said the victim impact statements demonstrated the effect and psychological damage on the men, who have carried the “terrible consequences” with them for decades.
She said the victims were children in O'Flaherty's care, and he saw them as an opportunity “to fulfil his own perverse need,” and he took advantage of them.
The judge said the seriousness of the offending, the breach of trust, and O'Flaherty's previous convictions are aggravating.
She also noted that the offending involved the “degradation of the boys in the presence of others” and their resulting fear.
The judge noted the mitigation and O'Flaherty's personal circumstances when imposing sentence.
She outlined individual sentences in respect of each count on the indictment, which included some consecutive elements, then having considered the principles of proportionality and totality, imposed a global sentence of five years.