Courts / Dublin / Report
Former principal's convictions for sexual abuse of pupils are upheld
Summary
Patrick Harte, a former school principal aged 79, appealed the 2020 conviction for 11 counts of indecent assault on seven pupils at Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school between 1968 and 1970. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, rejecting his claim that the trial was prejudiced because he had not sought a parish priest's blessing before entering a teacher training course. The court found no evidence of collusion among the complainants and upheld the joint trial as the strongest case. It also found no prejudice from the delay or from the lack of a religious reference, noting that a jury in 2020 would not have been influenced by such a factor. The appeal was rejected with no reasons to consider the trial unsafe or unfair. The conviction and 3‑year sentence remain in force.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former principal's convictions for sexual abuse of pupils are upheld. Charges or matters: 11 counts of indecently assaulting seven pupils at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school on Synge Street, Dublin, between September 1968 and September 1970. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- March 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 1968 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 1970 Hearing Or Sentence
- 1968 and 1970 Incident
- 2021-11-26 Publication
Why: Mr Fitzgerald said this had become prejudicial in front of a jury because the accused said he had not sought the blessing of the local parish priest to enter into a teaching course, which was custom at the time. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: 11 counts of indecently assaulting seven pupils at the Sancta Maria Christian Brothers primary school on Synge Street, Dublin, between September 1968 and September 1970 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Harte, of Glendown Park, Templeogue, Dublin, was later jailed for three years by Judge Martin Nolan.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Circuit Criminal Court
- Synge Street
- Glendown Park
- Dublin
Topics
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