Courts / Dublin / Report
Ex-Terenure College rugby coach and serial abuser admits further offences but won't face any more jail time again
Summary
John McClean, former Terenure College rugby coach, admitted abusing four additional teenagers but will not receive extra jail time because his sentences run concurrently with a 10½‑year global term for 45 earlier victims. The court, following a Court of Appeal direction, capped his total term at ten and a half years for his overall misconduct. McClean, 80, pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault between 1973 and 1990. He had previously received an 11‑year sentence with the last three years suspended in 2021 for sexual abuse of 22 boys, and a 4‑year sentence reduced to two and a half years in 2023. The judge noted McClean's position of trust and that the new two‑year sentence will run concurrently with the earlier suspended portion, so he will not serve additional custody. Victim impact statements highlighted shame, anger, and the lasting effects of the abuse.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-Terenure College rugby coach and serial abuser admits further offences but won't face any more jail time again. Charges or matters: seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys between 1973 and 1990 at Terenure College. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- 1973 and 1990 Other
- 1966 and 1996 Other
- 2025-04-02 Publication
Why: He was also a rugby coach and had the nickname of 'Doc' because students would often go to him if they had an injury. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys between 1973 and 1990 at Terenure College (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He suggested a concurrent sentence could be imposed as punishment in relation to the current four complainants, as McClean's offending in these cases falls within the spectrum of his other offending and occurred in the same time period. McClean today was handed a two-year sentence, which will run consecutively to the 11 year sentence with the final three years suspended, which was imposed in 2021.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Casimir Avenue
- Dublin
- Midlands Prison
Topics
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