Latest news with #Clohessy
Extra.ie
06-07-2025
- Extra.ie
'Gardaí must investigate St John of God chief' urge internal and external critics
The leader of the St John of God order in Ireland should face criminal investigation for the reckless endangerment of children who were abused by a notorious paedophile, internal and external critics believe. Speaking to this weekend, former HSE board member Fergus Finlay said this newspaper's revelations about a St John of God cover-up that allowed children to be abused in Africa should be criminally investigated. 'Gardaí should be investigating that with the view to bringing charges of reckless endangerment,' he said. Mr Finlay is just one of the growing ranks of critics of the order's response to the revelations on last weekend. Br Donatus Forkan. Pic: Tom Honan. These include international funders of the order Kindernothilfe (KNH), a senior medical consultant, Paul Moran, who works for the order, and victims of St John of God, Brother Aidan Clohessy. Together, they have demanded that Donatus Forkan, the Provincial of the St John of God order, resign or be removed from any service provision role pending the outcome of any criminal inquiry. KNH is one of Europe's largest children's charities and a vital funder of St John of God's operations in Africa. But when the main Irish funder of St John of God (SJoG) – the HSE – was asked for its view on our revelations and Br Forkan's position, they instead directed our questions back to the order. Last week, published harrowing stories of child abuse victims from Malawi who had been abused by serial paedophile Clohessy, who was sent into their midst by Br Forkan in 1993 until his removal from public ministry in 2012. Irish Provincial Brother Donatus Forkan, pictured far left, joined Br Aidan, centre, when an extension to a college of health sciences was opened. Pic: File On June 23 and 24, Clohessy was sentenced to more than five years in prison for the historical abuse of six children at St Augustine's, a school for the intellectually disabled in South Co. Dublin, where Clohessy was a teacher and then principal between 1969 and 1993. Our reporting revealed that while in Malawi, Clohessy continued to abuse as his superiors oversaw secret settlements to victims back home and told the authorities he had no access to children. Knowingly placing children in danger has been a crime in Ireland since the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. By law, a person can be prosecuted for recklessly endangering a child 'by causing or permitting any child to be placed or left in a situation which creates a substantial risk to the child being a victim of serious harm or sexual abuse.' Br Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts Mr Finlay – a former CEO of children's charity, Barnardos – said that in his experience of the St John of God order, 'money matters to them almost more than anything else.' He called on Br Forkan to step down immediately from any role involving services to vulnerable children and adults. As Provincial of his order, Br Forkan remains a long-standing board member of the St John of God Hospitaller Services Group. This entity is a parent company to St John of God Community Services, a charity for intellectually disabled children and adults, funded entirely by the HSE to the tune of hundreds of millions annually. Mr Finlay told 'I strongly believe – strongly believe – that he should step down or step aside from or be removed from every position of authority in relation to the provision of services. What the order does is entirely a matter for the order, as far as I'm concerned, but the service provision end of it, the publicly funded companies that are involved in providing services, he should not be a director of those under any circumstances.' St. John of God House of Hospitality, Mzuzu, Malawi. Pic: Sean Dwyer Asked if the HSE should insist Br Forkan be removed, Mr Finlay replied: 'If necessary yes, but I think the board, in the first instance, should address that, if they have the wherewithal to do that.' However, as of last night, both the board of the St John of God Hospitaller Services Group and the HSE were refusing to address the issue. When asked about Br Forkan's position, the HSE said we should redirect our questions to St John of God itself. St John of God, meanwhile, had no comment to make about Br Forkan's position. This silence is in stark contrast to the willingness of international funders and senior medical staff within the St John of God group to speak up – even at some risk to themselves. Paul Moran, a consultant psychiatrist employed by St John of God, told 'I am aware that in coming forward, I may be putting myself at risk, professionally, but in light of the inadequate response from the organisation, I feel I must speak out and ask questions. St. John of God Hospital in Stillorgan. Pic: Chris Bacon 'I am anxious not to scare current service users and want to reassure them that the service safeguards are better now than they were, but we have a situation where, in the shadows, we have this order which sits above the management of these services and has power and control and is basically under the direction of one of the main guys who allowed this to happen. 'So, while the service is committed to protecting people, the people they report to have a record of not doing so, and that raises a question as to who is in a position to guarantee that the required standards are met.' Mr Moran questioned whether Br Forkan should be allowed to have a role in governing services. 'In light of what has been revealed and what has been proven in court, his role needs to be investigated. And until such time as these investigations are concluded, should he be allowed an active role in governing services for vulnerable people?' Br Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts Mr Moran also criticised the manner in which the St John of God order had spent millions on private settlements with Clohessy's victims in Malawi and Ireland. He said the order 'appears more committed to looking after the interest and reputation of the order ahead of everything else, including the rights and safety of victims'. He added: 'Paying off of victims to prevent court cases happening is not consistent with any of the policies or safeguarding guidelines, or the stated values of the order.' One of the order's main international funders – German children's charity KNH – last night welcomed Clohessy's prosecution. 'It is crucial that cases of sexual abuse are consistently pursued through legal channels and that perpetrators are held accountable, regardless of when or where the offences were committed,' a spokesperson said. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims. Their voices deserve to be heard, justice must be served, and their protection ensured. Protecting children must always be the highest priority in any society and institution.' KHN also called for Br Forkan to be investigated for recklessly endangering children. 'With regard to Brother Donatus, it is in our view now urgent that an independent and transparent review of all related events be conducted,' a KNH spokesperson told 'We think an independent investigation into Donatus Forkan's role in sending and tolerating Brother Aidan's presence in Malawi is a necessary step after the court ruling. 'This is essential not only to clarify responsibility but also to draw structural consequences and improve systems for child protection,' the charity said. KNH added: 'Religious institutions, like all other institutions, must never evade responsibility or remain silent. Instead, they must implement effective child protection systems. All known abuse cases must be fully investigated and published, regardless of the perpetrator's position or rank. 'Those who have failed – whether through active cover-up or neglect – must be held accountable. Abuse must never be dealt with internally. External, independent bodies are needed to investigate and monitor incidents.' Clohessy's victims this weekend said more investigations and prosecutions are required. Abuse survivor Joe Devine said Clohessy should be prosecuted for the abuse he committed in Malawi. 'There should be a trial, the same way there was a trial here in Ireland,' he said. Mr Devine's wife, Sally, also said Br Forkan should be investigated. 'Although I know he wasn't actually carrying out the abuse, he was complicit in allowing it to go on.' Another survivor, Patsy Carville, criticised the Church authorities. 'It's the Catholic Church you have to blame,' he said. He [Clohessy] was told not to go near children, and he was there for 20 years. It's a disgrace nobody checked up on him,' he said. Victim Wayne Farrell said the abuse of children in Africa was 'horrendous'. 'I think justice should be done for them here, and I'd like to hear something from the Irish Government on it,' he said. Another victim, Gerry Quinn, said the role of Br Forkan needed to be exposed. 'He needs to be exposed and the people who backed him, they need to be exposed as well. That monster [Clohessy] was left roam free over there.' The State child and family agency, Tusla, said it could not comment on any individual case. However, a spokesperson said: 'Organisations who are providing services to children have a statutory responsibility under the Children First Act 2015 to keep children safe from harm while availing of those services, carry out a risk assessment, prepare and publish a Child Safeguarding Statement and to refer any concern regarding a child to Tusla. 'When Tusla suspects that a crime has been committed, and a child or children have been wilfully neglected or physically or sexually abused, Tusla notifies An Garda Síochána where they investigate the crime.' also contacted the Department of Health, whose spokesperson advised that the Department of Children should be contacted for comment. However, that department did not respond. A spokesperson for the Association of Leaders of Missionaries & Religious of Ireland declined to comment last night – but confirmed that the matter would be referred to the next meeting of the executive. Last week, the SJoG order refused to comment on its role in the cover-up of Clohessy's crimes in Ireland and Africa. Instead, Br Forkan posted a brief statement on the St John of God website. He said in the statement: 'I apologise to anyone who has experienced hurt in our services in the past. 'As a community, we unequivocally condemn any action that harms or diminishes others. 'These recent times have reflected pain for so many and brought emotional turmoil for all affected. We think especially of those who came forward to report hurt that they had experienced, we acknowledge their bravery and courage and we think of their families and loved ones.' This week, a spokesperson for St John of God declined to specifically address queries about the role of Br Forkan. 'The order encourages anyone who has experienced hurt to seek support and talk with the authorities,' he said, before providing abuse helpline phone numbers.
Extra.ie
29-06-2025
- Extra.ie
The timeline of Br Aidan Clohessy's career of predatory abuse
This week, St John of God brother, former principal at St Augustine's School, Blackrock, and predatory paedophile Br Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison for the indecent assault of six minors. The two main witnesses against him came forward due to previous coverage in this publication, when we revealed Clohessy's identity, which was previously cloaked as 'Brother D' in a 2015 Safeguarding Report into the order. This week, we reveal approx €3m in settlements and fresh victims of abuse in Malawi, where, until 2012, Clohessy was revered in the country's third-largest city, Mzuzu, as a righteous man of God. Brother Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts The following timeline details the painstaking, expensive and at times frustrating lengths to which our journalists went to unmask a monster, and to hold to account an order's shocking inaction in the face of mounting allegations, to leave street children in harm's way. These children have now become men and have made numerous sickening allegations, in Irish court documents and to which, given the nature of his convictions, are very likely to be true but which, in any case, St John of God is in no position to deny. 1969: Aged 30, Br Aidan Clohessy is assigned to St Augustine's School for intellectually disabled boys. 1969 – 1971: On an unknown date during these years, Patsy Carville, a pupil who lives at the school, is sexually assaulted by Clohessy in a gym store room. 1972: Clohessy, who becomes known to pupils as Br Aidan becomes principal of St Augustine's. 1973 – 1989: On various dates between these years, Clohessy sexually assaulted five other pupils, including Joe Devine, Gerry Quinn and Wayne Farrell. 1985: THE St John of God (SJoG) order receives its first child sex abuse complaint about Clohessy. It is disregarded and not referred to the gardaí. He continues to abuse. 1991: The SJoG order implements its first-ever code for dealing with abuse allegations. It stipulates that anyone accused of abuse should be suspended or assigned duties that 'remove him from other children or clients' pending an investigation. 1993: Clohessy takes a five-year 'career break' and is dispatched to Malawi by then Irish Provincial, Br Donatus Forkan. Brother Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts 1994: In Rome, Br Forkan is elected a general councillor of the order, making him one of the five most senior members globally. 1995: Makaiko Chimaliro, a 12-year-old homeless child in Mzuzu, Malawi, is taken from the streets by Br Aidan to live in his home. He is routinely sexually abused. 1997: Back in Ireland, Clohessy's order receives a second abuse complaint against him relating to St Augustine's. Then-Provincial Br Fintan Whitmore forbids Clohessy from having any contact with children in Malawi. This instruction is ignored and never enforced. Meanwhile, in Mzuzu, John Phiri, an eight-year-old living on the streets, is taken in by Br Aidan, who later begins abusing John when he turns 12. 1999: Br Aidan invites Edward Phiri, an 11-year-old sleeping rough at the Mzuzu bus station, to his home. In the same year another street child, Stephen Chiumia, also moves in. Both are routinely abused. Meanwhile, back in Ireland, then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, below, makes an unreserved State apology to all victims of child abuse in publicly funded institutions such as St Augustine's. This paves the way for the Ryan Commission and a compensation scheme, the Redress Board. 2000: In Rome, Br Forkan is elected First General Councillor – making him the second most powerful member of the St John of God order worldwide. Brother Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts JUNE 12, 2001: The Government publishes the legislation to set up the Redress Board. St Augustine's is not initially listed as a qualifying institution. MARCH 28, 2002: The Redress Board legislation is passed by the Dáil with last-minute changes that include St Augustine's for the first time. Now, anyone abused by Clohessy at St Augustine's can be compensated via the Redress Board in secret. He, meanwhile, remains living with and abusing children in Malawi. 2003: Redress Board payments begin to be made in secret to some of those abused by Clohessy at St Augustine's. By now, SJoG has received 10 abuse complaints against him directly. These are separate from any unknown number of complaints about him processed in secret by the Redress Board [a number the order still refuses to disclose]. SJoG writes to Clohessy (in Africa) to tell him 'not to have direct responsibility for programmes attended by children'. This instruction is again ignored and again not enforced. Some of those who received Redress Board compensation make criminal complaints to gardaí. These go nowhere. JULY 16, 2004: Then-Irish Provincial Br Fintan Whitmore testifies before the Ryan Commission. He misleads the inquiry by saying his order never received any abuse complaints until 1996, though the first complaint against Clohessy had been received more than a decade earlier in 1985. He also does not mention that he had instructed him to have no contact with children in 1997, while leaving Clohessy responsible for the care of children in Africa regardless. Asked why his order decided to contribute €1m to the Redress Board despite never having had any arrests or prosecutions for abuse, Br Whitmore tells the commission the indemnity provided by the Redress Board was an 'attractive proposition.' JULY 16, 2006: The Criminal Justice Act 2006 becomes law, making it a criminal offence for people in authority to recklessly endanger children by knowingly placing them at risk of abuse. Brother Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Seán Dwyer 20/05/25 OCTOBER 14, 2006: In Rome, Br Forkan is elected Prior General of the St John of God order, making him the global leader of the organisation. OCTOBER 28, 2006: In an address to the Irish bishops, Pope Benedict, right, focuses on child abuse in the Irish Church. He instructs the bishops to 'establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again, to ensure that the principles of justice are fully respected, and above all, to bring healing to the victims and all those affected by these egregious crimes. 2007: In order to begin receiving funding from German children's charity Kindernothilfe, Br Aidan lies by signing a false declaration to say he has never been accused of child abuse. He goes on to secure more than €1m for the children's services he is overseeing in Mzuzu, even though his order has instructed him to have no contact with children. MAY 20, 2009: The Ryan Commission report is published. The St John of God order escapes any negative criticism, and St Augustine's is not mentioned at all. Clohessy, meanwhile, remains working with children in Africa as a new complaint relating to his time at St Augustine's is received. 2010: Clohessy and Br Forkan celebrate their Golden Jubilee together. Br Forkan goes on one of his frequent trips to Malawi, staying in Br Aidan's home. St John of God receives a new abuse complaint about Clohessy. Reacting to the publication of the Murphy Commission of Inquiry report into child abuse in Dublin, Pope Benedict issues a pastoral letter to the people of Ireland demanding 'urgent action' from the Irish Church saying 'a misplaced concern for the reputation of the Church and the avoidance of scandal' has failed to safeguard child abuse victims. 2011: The St John of God order, continues to receive new complaints against Clohessy, dating back to his time as principal of St Augustine's. After carrying out a 'risk assessment' the order concludes Clohessy represents a 'low risk of physical or sexual abuse' because, according to the order, he is 'not in a position of authority over children'. Yet Br Aidan remains living and working with children in Malawi, where no one has yet been informed of the allegations against him or the secret settlements made via the Redress Board 2012: After yet another complaint by a victim who first came forward in 1998, Clohessy is finally withdrawn from public ministry and his access to children restricted. But the reason for his withdrawal is kept secret. No efforts are made to establish if children under his care in Malawi since 1993 were abused. Twenty-seven years after the first 1985 complaint against Clohessy, his order belatedly forwards it to the gardaí. The complaint goes nowhere. 2013: Three more complaints relating to Clohessy's period at St Augustine's are received by his order, and a canonical inquiry is commenced by the Vatican. No one in Malawi, where Br Aidan lived and worked with children for 20 years, is informed of the Vatican investigation. 2014: Another three complaints relating to Clohessy's period at St Augustine's are made. He now faces 20 different sets of allegations from his time at the school. One of the complainants makes a formal garda statement. Clohessy denies any wrongdoing when interviewed by gardaí, and the DPP declines to prosecute at that stage. DECEMBER 2015: An audit by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) is critical of SJoG's management of the complaints against Clohessy. The audit identifies him only as 'Brother D'. It also does not refer to his presence in Africa for two decades. The audit is welcomed by Br Donatus Forkan (who is Irish Provincial again) as evidence that no member of the order has ever been arrested or prosecuted for abuse. JULY 2016: publishes an investigation into €1.6m secret pay top-ups to SJoG executives. APRIL 13, 2017: As part of our continuing SJoG investigations, we inform Br Whitmore that we intend to report his inaccurate testimony to the Ryan Commission. In response, Br Whitmore and his order claim we have libelled him in our questions: 'Please note that our clients demand that you immediately, unequivocally and in writing, without any pre-conditions of any sort, retract these statements and comments and issue an unequivocal apology in writing to Br Fintan Whitmore, the St John of God Order and St John of God Community Services in default of which we expressly reserve our clients' rights to issue defamation proceedings.' APRIL 16, 2017: We publish the story about Br Whitmore's misleading commission testimony. Despite its threat, the order does not sue. Its reaction makes us want to establish the identity of 'Brother D' and track down victims. It quickly becomes clear that Br Aidan Clohessy is Br D. We resolve to prove and publish this. JUNE 22, 2017: We find and speak with former homeless heroin addict and St DWYER Augustine's pupil Con Carroll. He tells how he was abused by SEÁN Clohessy and how complaints to gardaí were dismissed by the DPP. With his help, we locate four other victims in Ireland. OCTOBER 2017: We travel to Malawi and speak with street children Br Aidan was allowed to have control over despite allegations against him. DECEMBER 2017: We confront Clohessy in Dublin. 'I don't think anybody is guilty until they're proved guilty,' he tells us. 'Innocent until proven guilty,' he adds. JANUARY 21, 2018: We name Br Aidan Clohessy as 'Brother D', an alleged paedophile, and outline the decades-long inaction that allowed him to continue to be in a position of power over children despite the allegations. Joe Devine, a former St Augustine's abuse victim who is unable to read or write, sees a photo of Clohessy on our front page. He and other victims, including Patsy Carville, right, come forward as a result of the coverage. Shortly afterwards, a Garda criminal investigation is launched. AUGUST 2018: Pope Francis visits Ireland and meets child abuse survivors. He tells them that priests who abuse children and those who cover up for them are nothing more than 'filth in the toilet'. JANUARY 4, 2019: Clohessy is interviewed voluntarily but under caution by gardaí. He denies abusing Patsy Carville and Joe Devine. 2021: Tired of waiting for a criminal prosecution, some St Augustine's victims begin to lodge civil cases in the High Court against Clohessy and SJoG. In an unprecedented legal move, Dublin law firm Coleman Legal also launches civil actions in Dublin on behalf of Br Aidan's victims in Malawi. The order will go on to settle these cases privately rather than let the cases be heard in open court. JUNE 9, 2021: Clohessy is interviewed, under caution, about another victim, Michael Duignan, right, who has come forward. Clohessy again denies everything. JANUARY 24, 2022: Another St Augustine's victim, Wayne Farrell, contacts Despite reporting his abuse to his local Garda station in 2018 when he saw our coverage, his case has been ignored. Now, five years later, we refer him to the garda team prosecuting Clohessy, and he becomes the State's lead witness. FEBRUARY 28, 2022: Clohessy is charged with multiple counts of indecent assault relating to four victims from St Augustine's. They include Joe Devine and Patsy Carville, who both came forward after they saw Clohessy's photo in the Mail on Sunday. His lawyers secure a court gagging order to prevent the charges from being reported publicly. MAY 7, 2022: A campaign of intimidation by parties in Malawi loyal to Br Aidan is launched against victims in Mzuzu. Victims are directly threatened with violence and offered cash to withdraw their complaints. In Dublin, St John of God condemns the intimidation. JUNE 20, 2022: Clohessy attends Blackrock Garda Station to be interviewed under caution about Wayne Farrell and Gerry Quinn. He denies everything. JUNE 25, 2022: and other media groups successfully apply to the Dublin Circuit Court to have the gagging order lifted. Clohessy is named in relation to the charges for the first time. OCTOBER 13, 2022: Clohessy is arraigned, and a trial date is set for November 2024, which is over two years away. NOVEMBER 7, 2022: An RTÉ Documentary On One: Blackrock Boys is broadcast. It sparks a renewed focus on historical abuse in religious-run schools and a Scoping Inquiry, which includes St Augustine's, is ordered by the Government. FEBRUARY 21, 2023: Clohessy is further charged with fresh counts against two new victims, including Wayne Farrell. SEPTEMBER 3, 2024: The Scoping Inquiry report is published. It confirms 112 allegations of abuse, involving 29 alleged abusers, that took place at St Augustine's. Many of the allegations relate to Clohessy. The Government approves a new Commission of Investigation into religious-run schools as recommended by the Scoping Inquiry. In the same week the report is published in Ireland, St John of God's lawyers negotiate settlements with more than a dozen victims in Mzuzu, without admitting any liability. APRIL-MAY 2025: After repeated adjournments and delays, two separate but back-to-back abuse trials against Clohessy begin at the Courts of Criminal Justice in Dublin. Due to recent changes in the law, he can't be named until convicted. He pleads not guilty, forcing his victims to testify in court even though St John of God has already paid civil settlements to most of them. Jurors remain ignorant of these pre-trial settlements. MAY 13, 2025: Clohessy is found guilty of 10 counts of abusing Gerry Quinn, right, and four counts of abusing Wayne Farrell in the first trial. MAY 30, 2025: Clohessy is found guilty of five additional counts of abuse against four others, including Joe Devine and Patsy Carville, in the second trial. JUNE 23 & 24, 2025: Clohessy is sentenced to four years for abusing Gerry Quinn and Wayne Farrell by Judge Elva Duffy. The next day, he is sentenced to a further 16 months for abusing Patsy Carville, Joe Devine, Michael Duignan and one other by Judge Martin Nolan. His total sentence is five years and four months. He informs the court he will not appeal the verdict of either trial. He is sent initially to Mountjoy Prison, where his prison number is 126787.
Extra.ie
29-06-2025
- Extra.ie
'Ogre' paedophile was left to prey on children in Africa as his Irish crimes were covered up
A lifelong predatory paedophile was left free to prey on children in Africa for decades as his superiors in Ireland covered up his crimes back home, an investigation reveals. Brother Aidan Clohessy, 85, was described by a judge this week as 'an ogre' who 'secretly carried out atrocities' in Ireland while being sentenced to more than five years in prison. In mitigation, lawyers for the former school principal told Dublin Central Criminal Court that Clohessy led a mission in Malawi to develop 'mental health services'. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin. However, can reveal that, in the lead-up to his prosecution, Clohessy's superiors in the St John of God order spent more than €3million on settling civil cases. These cases involve ex-pupils of Clohessy in Dublin and former street children in Malawi in southeastern Africa. Up to 20 cases from Malawi have been settled and a similar amount are pending. All settlements were made without any admission of liability. Some of those who received civil compensation from the St John of God order still had to go through the trauma of testifying in court because Clohessy pleaded not guilty. Aidan Clohessy. Pic: Seán Dwyer 20/05/25 Clohessy, who was the principal of St Augustine's in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, from the early 1970s until 1993, was jailed for a total of five years and four months this week after he was convicted of sexually abusing six Irish boys at the special needs school between 1969 and 1989. Before Clohessy's trials in Dublin, travelled to Malawi to speak with victims there, who detailed horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of the now-convicted paedophile. 'Sometimes he raped us, sometimes he played with our private parts, sometimes he beat us,' Stephen Chiumia said. 'Most of the things he was doing, he was doing when we went to the bathroom. He would take us to the bathroom, one after the other.' Pic: Getty Images Mr Chiumia was one of many street children Clohessy brought to live in his home in Malawi. At the time, Clohessy's superiors in Ireland were reassuring the authorities here that he had no access to children. Another alleged victim who lived with Clohessy in Malawi, Makaiko Banda Chimaliro, told 'What makes me angry is the fact that someone in Ireland knew that he was a risk to us and they still decided to send him to Malawi to do the same work where he was exposed to more kids. 'Sometimes I even feel like I would have been better off as a street kid compared to the way I was abused.' Saint John of God: Logo. Pic: File Clohessy remained in Malawi from 1993 until 2012 when he was withdrawn overnight amid a Vatican investigation, called a Canonical inquiry. The Vatican and Clohessy's order have refused to comment on this inquiry. No one at St John of God's services in Malawi was told why Clohessy was suddenly recalled without notice. 'There wasn't even a single rumour,' St John of God's then clinical director, Harrison Chilale, told in 2017. No effort was made to trace those put at risk in Malawi – until tracked them down. 'Ogre' Clohessy. Pic: Collins Courts The cover-up of Clohessy's past by his order was so successful he was able to lie to international funders, telling them he had never been accused of abuse, securing more than €1m in funding for St John of God's children's projects in Malawi run by Clohessy. In 2010, Clohessy's work with children in Malawi was the subject of a documentary called The Warm Heart of Africa (Croi Te Na hAfraice), which aired on TG4. 'There was a time when everywhere you went, you were meeting children who were begging. 'You could see that they were suffering,' Clohessy told the programme. 'We decided that St John of God should take leadership. People literally went out onto the streets to identify the children, and then they'd invite them to come back to hear their story.' Even as this programme aired on TV, St John of God was still receiving new abuse complaints about Clohessy from his former Irish pupils at St Augustine's, but these were kept under wraps, and he was left unsupervised to continue living and working with children in Malawi. Clohessy sought to use his time in Malawi to seek a lower sentence in mitigation. Outlining his role in establishing a mission in Malawi, his barrister, Ronan Kennedy, told the court his client 'devoted a lot of his life to serving others'. 'He is a person who has, despite his failings, made some contribution to society,' Mr Kennedy said. He added that Clohessy lived a 'humble and quiet existence' and still 'lives in service of others' by tending to the 11 elderly members of the St John of God order resident in Stillorgan. Mr Kennedy also sought leniency on the basis that his client had been 'subject to significant adverse publicity in the national media'. 'In many respects, he was already condemned and judged in the court of public opinion before he was ever tried in this court,' he said. Mr Kennedy also pointed to the fact that his client 'didn't stand in the way' of the civil cases being 'dealt with'. Clohessy, with an address at the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Granada, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, was convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault following two back-to-back trials held behind closed doors last month. At his sentencing hearings this week, Clohessy's barrister told the court his client would not be appealing the verdicts. Mr Kennedy said this would 'bring some closure' to the victims. But Clohessy has never apologised or expressed any remorse for his actions. The historical case against the former school principal – one of the oldest to ever be prosecuted in Ireland – followed a near-decadelong campaign by this website. Our investigation, the first part of which was published in 2018, tracked down new victims in Ireland and spoke with street children in Africa who told us that the brother frequently watched them bathe in a purpose-built shower block. This coverage prompted more victims to come forward, ultimately leading to the successful Garda investigation and State prosecution, which concluded this week. But the jailing of Clohessy is only part of a much wider, international cover-up that can now be told in full for the first time. During Clohessy's trials, jury members remained ignorant of the cover-up of the risk he posed for decades in Africa by his superiors. Their actions in keeping a lid on the danger Clohessy posed to children enabled him to remain living with minors in Malawi. The court was also unaware that, in the lead-up to his trial, St John of God spent millions settling dozens of civil cases against Clohessy and the order. The cases being taken by Dublin law firm Coleman Legal are unprecedented in that no African abuse victim had ever before sought recompense for abuse in an Irish court. These civil cases are also being taken against the leader of St John of God in Ireland, Br Donatus Forkan, who dispatched Clohessy to Africa after he abused children here. He frequently visited Clohessy in Malawi, where he was known widely simply as Br Aidan, as secret settlements were paid out to victims here. Unusually, Clohessy – whose top criminal defence team was privately funded – took the stand himself. Clohessy denied each charge, often with two-word answers, delivered with a shrug. 'That's incorrect,' he said repeatedly. 'Didn't happen.' At times, he chuckled as if he found some questions ridiculous, and he was frequently heard humming to himself in court. This confident performance was in marked contrast to the testimony of victims. Describing the abuse they suffered, they broke down emotionally, cowering from the nearby presence of their tormentor. One of them, Kildare man Joe Devine, suffered a panic attack and collapsed to the floor under cross-examination by Clohessy's defence, requiring an ambulance. The episode delayed proceedings for several days and could have jeopardised the entire trial if the key witness had not been able to resume his evidence. When first confronted Clohessy in January 2018, he denied any wrongdoing, although he acknowledged his order had made settlements to his former pupils. 'I don't think anybody is guilty until they're proved guilty,' he said at the time. 'Innocent until proven guilty.' Now, after decades of silence, those abused by Clohessy can finally speak freely. They include Wayne Farrell, a former pupil of St Augustine's school in Dublin, where Clohessy was principal until he was sent to Malawi in 1993. 'Life will never be the same. The memories are always there, and the damage can never be repaired,' he told Mr Farrell said he was appalled to learn Clohessy had been sent to Malawi after abusing him here. 'I was in shock when I heard about Africa. He's a predator. He picked on weak people. Frail people,' he added. The St John of God order refused to respond to detailed queries about the number of alleged abuse cases involving Clohessy or how much it has paid out in settlements to victims. 'There is no comment,' a spokesman said.
Irish Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ex-school principal jailed for indecent assault gets extra jail time
A former school principal jailed for indecently assaulting two students has been told he will spend a further 16 months in prison for indecent assaulting another four boys. Aidan Clohessy (85) was jailed yesterday for four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s. He was convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault in relation to six boys following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month. Today, Judge Martin Nolan imposed sentence in relation to the second trial, in which Clohessy was convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting four boys. Two of these counts of indecent assault related to one boy, with one count each in relation to the other three boys. All of this offending took place between 1969 and 1986. Clohessy was acquitted of three further counts of indecent assault. After hearing facts yesterday, Judge Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider sentence and the defence's submission in relation to the totality principle. Judge Nolan said the indecent assaults were 'undoubtedly very serious' for the injured parties, noting that many of the incidents described were 'obviously physical chastisement as well'. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He said the aggravating features included that Clohessy was in a position of trust which he betrayed. The judge also noted that the injured parties were vulnerable and said Clohessy 'took advantage of their vulnerability'. He said there was some 'small mitigation', including Clohessy's age. Judge Nolan said if this was a standalone trial, and Clohessy was younger, he would impose a sentence of between three and four years. But, the judge said the court had to take into account the totality principle and that Clohessy is already serving a sentence. He imposed a 16-month sentence, which is to run consecutive to the four year sentence imposed yesterday. This means Clohessy's has received a global sentence of five years and four months for his offending against the six injured parties. A member of the Order of St John of God, Clohessy was the principal of St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co. Dublin from the early 1970s until 1993, when he was appointed to lead a mission in Malawi. Clohessy, with an address at the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Granada, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, voluntarily returned to Ireland in 2013. The six boys were all pupils of the school. Some were boarders at the school, which catered for boys with mild to moderate learning disability at that time. The injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when Clohessy's offending took place. The abuse primarily took the form of inappropriate touching, the court heard. In the first trial, Clohessy was convicted of 14 counts of indecent assault - 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985. The court heard that some of the complainants had no objection to being identified. Yesterday, Clohessy was handed a sentence of four years in relation to the offending against these two injured parties. Imposing sentence yesterday, Judge Elva Duffy said Clohessy was 'living a life full of good deeds during the day', but was also 'an ogre' who carried out 'what can only be described as atrocities at night time, when no one could see that behaviour'. Victim impact statements were read to the court on behalf of all six injured parties during the two separate sentence hearings. They outlined how the abuse affected the men's mental health, relationships, education and later employment opportunities. In a statement read by his wife to the court, Gerard Quinn addressed Clohessy directly. 'Brother Aidan, I don't forgive you but I don't judge you anymore. That responsibility does not belong to me. 'One day, you will stand before the man you chose to serve. One day, you will stand before your maker, and on that day, you will be handed your judgement.' Another man said he struggled to learn his wedding vows or to read his children a story. Clohessy denied wrongdoing when interviewed voluntarily by gardai, but acknowledged that corporal punishment was used in the school, including by him. He told gardai this included striking boys on their bare buttocks, but said this was only for the most serious offences and only of those boys who were residents at the school. The investigating gardai agreed with Ronan Kennedy SC, defending, that his client was co-operative during the investigation and has been subject to adverse publicity. Mr Kennedy said Clohessy lives 'a humble and quiet existence' and supports other members of the religious community who have significant health issues. A medical report and two testimonials were handed to the court on Clohessy's behalf. Mr Kennedy asked the court to take into account his client will find custody more difficult due to his age and health issues. He submitted that his client would have to live with the stigma of being a sex offender and has already been subject to negative publicity. 'In many respects, he was already condemned and judged in the court of public opinion before he was ever tried in this court,' Mr Kennedy said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Child left in hot car, Bloomfield officer critically injured, Warm and stormy, Church members mourn, Albuquerque pickleball facility
Former APD officer pleads guilty to his role in DWI dismissal scandal What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? Officials speak on closure of Hobbs prison Teens accused of bringing gun to high school placed in supervision program National Guard likely to deploy by the end of the week in Albuquerque Bernalillo County providing free groceries to low-income seniors [1] Colorado man arrested, accused of leaving 6-year-old in hot car at ABQ store – A Colorado man is in custody after being accused of leaving his son in a hot car in Albuquerque. Police arrested 45-year-old Michael Clohessy after they say he was seen on surveillance video walking into the Walmart on Carlisle near Menaul, leaving his six-year-old son in the backseat. According to a criminal complaint, Clohessy told officers the boy did not want to go in the store, adding he thought he would be in the store for less than 15 minutes, but police say the boy was left alone for more than 20 minutes. Clohessy is now facing child abuse charges. [2] Bloomfield officer critically injured, suspect killed in traffic-stop shootout – A New Mexico police officer is in critical condition after a traffic stop turned into a deadly shooting that left the suspect dead. Bloomfield police say around 11 p.m. Monday, Officer Timothy Ontiveros pulled over a driver for a traffic stop. Police say the driver then shot Officer Ontiveros in the neck and shoulder. A second officer on scene then shot and killed the driver. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is taking over the investigation. The driver's identity is not being released until they notify the next of kin. [3] Storms near the Rio Grande Valley and breezy weather – East winds will again bring in higher humidity into the Rio Grande Valley by Wednesday morning, but will get washed out to the east in the afternoon. Daily rain and thunderstorms chances will continue along and east of the central mountain chain through the end of the week. Strong to severe storms will be possible Wednesday afternoon in eastern New Mexico with large hail and damaging wind gusts. Temperatures will be heating up through the end of the week. The Metro will climb back into the 90s again by Friday. [4] Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son – Members of an Albuquerque church are continuing to mourn two of their longtime members after they were killed in a murder-suicide. For more than a decade, Stephen and Marcia Bockemeirer could be spotted nearly every Sunday at Albuquerque Revival Church in the International District. The Bockemeirer's were killed early Saturday by their youngest son, Andrew, who then took his own life. Police believe Andrew was suffering from a mental health illness. Lead pastor, Andres Lopez said when he became the pastor at Albuquerque Revival, the Bockemeiers were associate pastors helping him ease into a new role. [5] First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque – Pickleball players around Albuquerque will soon have a new place to play. Premier Pickleball's indoor facility will feature 12 courts, a skinny court and a drinking area. Chief Operations Officer Marty Garcia says the facility named 'The Picklr' will bring climate controlled courts to the city. He also said opportunities to play at the highest level, like the Professional Pickleball Association and major league pickleball, will be included. The facility is located at what used to be a Conn's Home Plus near Eubank Blvd. and I-40. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
