A "sly and manipulative" Franciscan brother, who abused his position as a respected teacher and sports organiser, was yesterday sentenced to five years in jail for abusing three teenage pupils between 1978 and 1990.
Séamus O'Callaghan (62), also known as Brother Majella O'Callaghan, was sentenced by Judge Anthony Kennedy at Mullingar Circuit Court.
The abuse took place when the boys were pupils at St Anthony's school in Clara, Co Offaly, where O'Callaghan was a highly regarded teacher and one of the leading promoters of sport in the school.
One of his victims told the court last month he had tried to kill himself four times and that his fiancée was the only reason he was still alive.
After the case, the Franciscan Brothers issued a statement apologising to the victims.
"We recognise the trauma, distress and deep pain that those abused have been forced to endure," said Brother Peter Roddy, minister general of the Franciscan Brothers Generate.
Judge Kennedy said O'Callaghan was a sexual predator and his actions were "sly, manipulative, systemic, premeditated, repeated and sustained."
He insinuated himself into the trust of the boys' families. He had carefully selected and groomed his victims and left a trail of misery behind him.
In one case, O'Callaghan went to a young boy's room on the pretext of checking an appendix scar, but proceeded to sexually abuse the boy.
He warned the boy to say nothing, calling it "our secret". The boy later took to wearing jeans in bed, and curling up into a ball, to stop O'Callaghan getting at him.
The court heard that O'Callaghan abused the three young boys at various places, including in dormitories and on the way to and from sporting events in which the boys were involved. He carried out one of the attacks in a lay-by just off a busy roadway.
Two of the victims reported waking up in bed to find O'Callaghan interfering with them. In two cases, the abuses continued when the boys were no longer boarding at the school and O'Cal-laghan called to the family home and offered to teach them how to drive.
The mothers of the victims were "flattered" that O'Callaghan would show such an interest in their sons, and the boys were unable to talk about how he would abuse them during the driving lessons.
The lives of the three victims were badly damaged by the ordeal and they suffered relationship, employment, alcohol and sexual difficulties, the judge said.
He ordered that O'Callaghan, who pleaded guilty to 11 counts of sex abuse, begin his five-year sentence on Monday next.
One of the victims, now 33, said after the court he was "delighted with the judge's ruling".
He added: "I feel vindicated and it will help to lift a load off my shoulders."
Last month in court this victim had told Judge Kennedy: "I don't believe his apology."
He paid tribute yesterday to Garda Vincent Hoey and other members of the Garda for their help in bringing out the truth.
O'Callaghan apologised in court for the "pain and trauma" he had caused his victims.
Judge Kennedy noted that O'Callaghan had made good progress on a programme for sexual offenders and said he would not be subjected to post-release supervision.
O'Callaghan still lives with the Franciscans in Clara, but the court was told he no longer has any access to children.
The statement from Brother Roddy added how "we, Franciscan Brothers, were deeply shocked when details of this abuse came to light in February 2004.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to the three victims and their families and to all who have suffered and continue to suffer because of what was done to them while in the care of one of our members."