Former Christian Brother admits assaults

A FORMER Christian Brother has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault at a national school in Limerick in the …

A FORMER Christian Brother has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault at a national school in Limerick in the 1960s.

Seán John Drummond, with an address at Broadford Drive, Ballinteer, Dublin, had his name placed on the sex offenders’ register after pleading guilty to 36 separate charges at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday.

The 61-year-old admitted indecently assaulting 19 boys at Creagh Lane national school in Bridge Street, Limerick, on dates unknown between July 1st, 1967, and July 31st, 1968.

The court heard that one of the assaults happened at the Féile Luimnigh festival at a city theatre.

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The victims, some of whom were present in court yesterday, were aged between eight and nine at the time of the assaults.

Sentencing in the case was adjourned until October 6th next for the presentation of a number of reports by the defence team.

Prosecution counsel John O’Sullivan said he would be calling the 19 victims to give victim impact statements, but that he did not believe they would take a lot of time as there “was a common pattern” to the assaults.

Judge Seán Ó Donabháin ordered that Drummond be remanded on bail until the sentencing hearing.

There was a short outburst from members of some of the victims’ families yesterday when Drummond left the courtroom.

The judge ordered that the anonymity of the injured parties be preserved and said victims had a right to anonymity unless they decide to waive it at a later date.