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Former church worker jailed for 13 years for rape and sexual abuse of 14 boys
Summary
Patrick O'Brien, a former lay worker with the Church of Ireland, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping and molesting 14 boys over a 40‑year period. He pleaded guilty to 48 counts of indecent assault and three counts of sexual assault, with offences ranging from kissing to forceful anal penetration. The abuse occurred between 1974 and 2013 at locations including Kildare, Westmeath, a boat in Loughrea, and St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. O'Brien had previously received a one‑year suspended sentence in 1989 for assaulting a ten‑year‑old boy. The sentencing hearing, held over two days, included victim impact statements from 14 men aged 7 to 16, who described the abuse as predatory and pervasive.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former church worker jailed for 13 years for rape and sexual abuse of 14 boys. Charges or matters: 48 sample counts of indecent assault, including various instances of anal penetration, and three counts of sexual assault of the boys. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 2014 Incident
- April 2014 Incident
- 1974 and 2013 Incident
- 2016-11-10 Publication
Why: Another victim said he never wanted to have children because he didn't want to be responsible for them after the abuse he suffered as a young boy. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: 48 sample counts of indecent assault, including various instances of anal penetration, and three counts of sexual assault of the boys (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) By Sonya McLean and Fiona Ferguson A former lay worker with the Church of Ireland has been jailed for 13 years for the rape and molestation of 14 young boys over the course of 40 years. Judge Greally imposed consecutive sentences totalling 13 years which she backdated to July.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin District Court
- Knocklyon Road
- Dublin
- cycled to his local garda station
Topics
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