Former Christian Brother accused of abusing nine pupils

A erstwhile teacher and subordinate of the Order of Christian Brothers has gone connected proceedings accused of humanities enactment offences against schoolhouse boys.

Paul Dunleavy, 88, of Glen Road successful westbound Belfast, is accused of 32 counts of indecent assault, 1 of attempted buggery, and 4 of gross indecency.

The offences are alleged to person been committed connected dates betwixt 1964 and 1991 against 9 antheral complainants.

The accused worked arsenic either a teacher oregon headmaster astatine 4 schools successful Belfast, Newry, County Down, and County Armagh during the clip play the offences are alleged to person occurred.

Opening the prosecution lawsuit astatine Belfast Crown Court, Neil Connor KC said Mr Dunleavy taught astatine schools crossed Northern Ireland from 1955 until his status successful 1998 portion a subordinate of the Order of Christian Brothers.

He told the assemblage of six men and six women that Mr Dunleavy was a teacher astatine Armagh Christian Brothers Primary School betwixt 1960 and 1966.

He aboriginal moved to the Abbey Christian Brothers Primary School successful Newry from 1966 to 1973 earlier returning to the schoolhouse successful 1987 arsenic headmaster until his status successful 1998.

Mr Dunleavy besides taught astatine St Aiden's Christian Brothers Primary School disconnected the Whiterock Road successful westbound Belfast betwixt 1973 and 1977, aboriginal becoming its headmaster betwixt 1980 and 1985.

He was besides headmaster astatine Gortnamona Secondary School successful westbound Belfast betwixt 1985 and 1987.

"Put simply, the prosecution lawsuit is that helium sexually abused a fig of pupils astatine those 4 schools who were entrusted into his care,'' the barrister said.

"You volition besides hear, members of the jury, that the suspect is besides a convicted kid intersexual abuser.

"You volition perceive that helium was convicted connected 2 abstracted occasions of a bid of intersexual offences against children successful his attraction astatine a fig of schools wherever helium taught."

Mr Connor KC told the assemblage that 1 complainant was successful his 11-Plus twelvemonth astatine Armagh Christian Brothers Primary School astir 1965/66.

'Boy A' told constabulary that the accused took him to the showers successful a adjacent secondary schoolhouse wherever helium was "told to portion disconnected and instrumentality a shower'' portion the suspect watched.

The complainant claimed Mr Dunleavy would past "dry him off'' earlier sexually abusing him. He told constabulary that this happened "on a regular basis''.

'Boy A' claimed that the accused sometimes taught him, and erstwhile that happened, helium would beryllium held backmost aft people and sexually abused.

Mr Connor told the assemblage that Mr Dunleavy was interviewed by constabulary astir the allegations, and helium either replied "no comment'' to each the questions oregon said "it didn't happen''.

The elder authoritative added: "It is our lawsuit that, erstwhile you person heard each the grounds successful this case, you volition beryllium satisfied truthful you are definite and firmly convinced that the suspect is blameworthy of each and each 1 of the charges connected the measure of indictment.''