Courts / Dublin / Report

Former school teacher who abused boys fails in bid to delay sentencing due to Covid-19

Date
2020-07-06

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Patrick Harte, 78, a former school teacher, was due to be sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for indecent assault of seven primary school boys at Synge Street between 1968 and 1970. He had been convicted in March of the previous year on eleven counts. Harte, who is on bail, did not attend the sentencing hearing; his defence lawyer, Patrick Gageby SC, submitted medical documents on his behalf, citing diabetes, chronic heart disease and the risk of COVID‑19 for someone over 70. Gageby requested a two‑month adjournment, arguing that Harte should not be compelled to attend court during the pandemic. Prosecutor Anne Rowland SC opposed the application, noting that five victims were present and that the case required finality. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged Harte's health but ruled that the sentence must proceed, adjourned the hearing to the next day and scheduled it for 4 pm, when the court building would be relatively empty. Harte denied the allegations.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former school teacher who abused boys fails in bid to delay sentencing due to Covid-19. Charges or matters: indecently assaulting seven primary school boys at Synge Street, Dublin between September 1968 and September 1970 following a trial last March; 11 counts of indecent assault of seven complainants at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school on Synge Street, Dublin. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

September 1968 Hearing Or Sentence
September 1970 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-07-06 Publication

Case subjects

Patrick Harte

Convicted Person

Charges: indecently assaulting seven primary school boys at Synge Street, Dublin between September 1968 and September 1970 following a trial last March; 11 counts of indecent assault of seven complainants at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school on Synge Street, Dublin (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Patrick Harte (78) was due to be sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today. However, the judge noted, "The virus will be with us for a considerable period of time", and that Harte must be sentenced for his crimes.; He asked that the sentence be adjourned for two months.