Latest news with #StJohnofGod
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
Victims detail abuse suffered under care of predator brother
Edward Phiri is 37, the father of four young children aged between four and eight. He lives in a one-room, mud-brick home in Mzuzu, Malawi, and supports his family by selling potions that his wife makes from herbs in the local market. As a child, although Edward had parents, he often slept rough at the bus depot in the centre of Mzuzu. Edward Phiri and Makaiko Bando Chimaliro. Pic: File In 1999, at age 11, Brother Aidan Clohessy invited Edward home to wash his clothes and bathe. Then the abuse started. 'He used to wash my penis. Of course, I was young. I didn't know what was happening but most of the time when I took my bath he would come and take my penis – – touch my penis. Now, as I am mature, I can say he was doing it like masturbation. But I was young, and didn't understand.' Edward was also physically punished, accused by Brother Aidan of stealing wine. The abuse and punishment led him to consider suicide. 'During my time, I used to even think to hang myself,' he told 'I went home and I take strings. I even put strings up in the house to kill myself, but some neighbour passing by took me from those strings.' Aidan Clohessy, a former Christian Brother. Pic: Collins Courts Today, despite Edward's experiences with St. John of God, he remains dedicated to religion, working alongside a local pastor. 'Brother Aidan, yeah, he was a man of God but you know sometimes the devil uses such people,' he said. Edward told us that he is happy to speak out, as he hopes this will encourage others to come forward. In 2022, Edward sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order ultimately settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. Looking to the future, Edward is planning to buy a farm and a house for his family. 'I think there is hope that somehow, something might change in my life,' he said. Makaiko Bando Chimaliro is a 42-year-old gardener and father of five children aged between eight and 22. Makaiko and his wife and family live in a shed-like home made from mud bricks on the outskirts of Mzuzu. Aidan Clohessy, a former Christian Brother. Pic: Seán Dwyer He met Brother Aidan on the streets of Mzuzu in January 1995, when he was 12. 'He was in the company of some black men,' Makaiko told 'They approached us, and they said to us that the man worked for St John of God and he wanted to help us – to remove us from the streets because the streets are dangerous and we could easily be killed. 'We were happy that this white man was going to take care of us.' Makaiko recalled being bathed by Brother Aidan. He also spoke of beatings: 'If we didn't go to school, he would ask you to take off all your clothes and then lie down. Then he would whip you naked.' Describing other abuse, he added: 'There were two bathrooms in Brother Aidan's yard – outside and in the house. When he tells you to go and bathe in the bathroom in the house, he would come there and then start having you help him masturbate.' Makaiko remembers there were 'about 15' other boys living at Brother Aidan's compound. He said the boys slept inside Brother Aidan's house, but knew not to go inside when there were visitors or until the cook left each evening. Saint John of God. Pic: File 'The cook would leave, and then we were able to go into the house at around 7.30. But whenever the cook was in the house, we would never enter the house,' he recalled. Makaiko said that he is angry at those who sent Brother Aidan to Malawi. '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. That makes me disappointed and angry at the authorities for doing that.' In 2023, Makaiko sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. But Makaiko said: 'No matter how much compensation we get, it's not enough because the pain and the hurt goes deep. It's beyond compensation. There is no amount of money that can make up for the shame and the pain that we've gone through.' John Phiri. Pic: File John Phiri is 36 years old and has never had a home or a steady job. He met Brother Aidan when he was just eight, living at the bus depot in Mzuzu, where street children slept. He then went to live with Brother Aidan, where at first things were good. 'After four years, he began to treat us badly,' John told 'He used to abuse us in different ways. He used to touch our buttocks. 'One day he gave me a soft drink, and in two minutes I fell down. I was knocked out. I didn't know what happened for some time. 'But when I got up, I realised my buttocks were hurting. 'I didn't know what was causing the pain until I went to the toilet. Then I realised something was wrong. The pain lasted for a whole four days.' John went to hospital, where he was told: 'You've been raped.' 'I couldn't do anything because I was so young and I did not know what to do,' he recalled. 'It hurts me so much. How could a man have sex with me? I feel like I was robbed of my future. It hurts me. Sometimes I even want to kill myself.' John said he wants those who put him at risk to face justice. 'The fact they knew he was a threat to kids here in Africa shows they are very bad people. What I want to say is I wish they would get arrested. I would be very happy to see that.' Last year, John sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order, Donatus Forkan. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. 'I will try to start a business, to multiply that money and make life better,' John said. Stephen Chiumia. Pic: File Stephen Chiumia is a 33-year-old carpenter from Mzuzu. He was orphaned as a child and grew up in the streets of the city, moving around daily to find shelter and food. In 1999, when he was aged 11, he met Brother Aidan. 'Brother Aidan said he could help us,' Stephen told when we met him in Mzuzu. 'He picked us up and took us to St John of God.' Stephen then lived in Brother Aidan's walled compound, on the outskirts of Mzuzu, for five years, until he was 16. Being bathed by Brother Aidan was a routine that took place two or three times a week. 'Sometimes he raped us, sometimes he played with our private parts, sometimes he beat us,' he recalled. '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.' Stephen and the other boys living in Brother Aidan's house felt imprisoned with no escape. 'We could not get out because there was a guard. The guard did not let us get out. His orders were not to let us get out.' Stephen said he is still affected by the abuse he suffered. 'It hurts me that he did this to me. I can tell you if I met him today, things would not end well.' In 2024, Stephen sued Brother Aidan and the head of the St John of God order. The order settled for a life-changing but confidential sum, without admitting liability. But no one apologised, something Stephen mentioned that he would like. Instead, he said, 'They just gave me money'.
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.
Sunday World
14-06-2025
- Sunday World
Hotel manager ran red light and crashed into parked car after drinking bottle of wine
Jennifer Ryan of Butterfield, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to drink-driving at Butterfield Park on February 10, 2024. A 55-year-old hotel manager who was observed running a red light and colliding with a parked car after drinking a bottle of wine has been banned from driving for three years and ordered to complete a restorative justice programme. Jennifer Ryan of Butterfield, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to drink-driving at Butterfield Park on February 10, 2024. Garda Ciarán Kelly told the court that at around 8.45pm, his attention was drawn to a car stopped at the top of a queue of traffic lights on Butterfield Avenue. The vehicle had reversed slightly towards the car behind. Stock image: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 14 2025 When gardaí pulled alongside, he said the driver slowly proceeded through a red light and did not stop when directed. The court heard the driver turned onto Butterfield Park and collided with a parked car, causing damage to both vehicles. Garda Kelly approached the driver's side and instructed the woman to turn off the engine. He noted a strong smell of alcohol and slurred speech from the driver. The court heard that a urine sample later returned a reading of 347 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine, well over the legal limit. The court heard that Ryan had no previous convictions. Her defence counsel, Lauren Flanagan BL, said that Ryan was 'desperately sorry' and had been under significant emotional strain at the time. She told the court that her client had consumed a full bottle of wine in one sitting and had since voluntarily given up driving, prompting Judge John O'Leary to ask: 'Would it not be easier for her to give up alcohol than driving?' Ms Flanagan said her client accepted she had an issue with alcohol and was actively engaging with support services. She said Ryan is currently receiving treatment through St John of God's addiction programme. Judge O'Leary convicted the defendant, imposed a €400 fine with six months to pay and disqualified her from driving for three years. He also ordered that she complete a restorative justice programme under the supervision of the Probation Service, and adjourned the case to September 5 next for a progress review. If the fine is paid and the restorative justice programme is completed, the court indicated no further penalty will be imposed. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
