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'Ogre' (85) who carried out 'atrocities' with night time abuse of boys is jailed
Summary
An 85‑year‑old former principal of St Augustine's School, Aidan Clohessy, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after being convicted of 19 counts of indecent assault against six boys aged 10 to 13. The offences, which took place between 1969 and 1986, involved inappropriate touching and were described by the judge as "atrocities at night time". Clohessy, who served as principal from the early 1970s until 1993, was found guilty in two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In the first trial he received 14 counts of indecent assault, and in the second he received five counts. He was acquitted of three further counts. Victim impact statements highlighted lasting mental health, educational and employment effects. Clohessy denied wrongdoing and acknowledged corporal punishment used at the school. He will not appeal the verdicts. The sentence was imposed with consideration of his age and health.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Ogre' (85) who carried out 'atrocities' with night time abuse of boys is jailed. Charges or matters: 19 counts of indecent assault following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month; 14 counts of indecent assault – 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- 1983 and 1985 Incident
- 1969 and 1986 Incident
- 2025-06-23 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: 19 counts of indecent assault following two separate trials at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last month; 14 counts of indecent assault – 10 in relation to one boy and four in relation to a second boy on dates between 1983 and 1985 (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Photo: Collins) By Eimear Dodd and Niamh O'Donoghue An octogenarian former school principal who carried out "atrocities at night time" with the abuse of two vulnerable boys over 40 years ago has been jailed for four years. She said she would impose two separate sentences of two years, to run consecutively.; Having heard evidence in this case today, Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider sentence.
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