Ireland 1973 to 2012: A Dominican admitted abuse in 1973, the provincial left him in ministry; he abused further children

In 2012 the Church's safeguarding board NBSCCCI reviewed the Irish Dominicans. A boy reported that a priest had abused him; he was sent to the headmaster, who also abused him, and when he reported this he was not believed. In the case of a second boy, the priest admitted the abuse to the provincial in 1973 and promised not to do it again; the provincial believed him and left him in ministry. The priest abused further children, was convicted and has been out of ministry since 1994. According to the report the order's inaction put other children at risk. Allegations were in the past long not reported or reported late; the risk posed by men who left the order was never assessed.

Period

1973-2012 (39 years)

Country

Ireland

Institutions

Dominicans (Irish Province)
National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland

Category

Sexual abuse, Cover-up

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Background

Response of the Church

1. In the case of a second boy, Father X admitted the abuse to the then provincial in 1973 and said he would not do it again; the provincial believed him and left him in ministry. According to the report, this inaction put other children at risk; the order acknowledged this in 2003. Another priest remained in ministry for over four years after first concerns were raised in 1990. In the past allegations were reported with long delays or not at all; the risk posed by men who left the order was never assessed, and for the order their departure ended the matter.
   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 13

   „Father X admitted the abuse and stated he would not do it again. This happened in 1973 and the then provincial believed the abuser and allowed him remain in ministry.“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 13

   „It is clear that the inaction by the order, when first notified of the abuse by Father X placed other children at risk.“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 13

   „This was acknowledged by the order in 2003“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 13

   „This friar was left in ministry after the first concerns about his potential as an abuser were raised in 1990 and it was over four years before this friar was removed from ministry.“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 11

   „Prior to this, there were long delays in reporting to the civil authorities.“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 11

   „but the fact remains that in the past allegations against members of the order were not reported“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 11

   „It would appear from reading the records that risk presented by these men was never assessed.“

   Evidence: National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), S. 11

   „The departure of the men from the order, as far as the Dominican’s were concerned, was the end of the matter“

See also

• 1968-2012 · 44 years

  Ireland 1968 to 2012: The Church's child-safeguarding board found serial abusers at Spiritan schools; one abused 28 children and remained in ministry until 1996

  • Ireland
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up
• 1975-2012 · 37 years

  Ireland 1975 to 2012: The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart for years did not pass abuse allegations against 17 members to police and authorities, and in 2011 publicly claimed the opposite

  • Ireland
  • Sexual abuse
  • Cover-up

Original documents to read

1. Church document
   National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI): Review of Safeguarding Practice in the Dominican Friars, 5 September 2012. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 30 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 30 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.