Former Christian Brother Convicted of Sexually Abusing Boys in Offaly School
A 90-year-old former Christian Brother already serving a 4½-year prison sentence for abusing primary school pupils in Kilkenny in the 1970s has been found guilty of sexually abusing nine boys at a school in Portarlington, Co Offaly, during the early to mid-1980s.
The Verdict:
Liam Coughlan, appearing by video link from prison, was convicted on all 31 counts of indecent assault after a jury at Portlaoise Circuit Criminal Court deliberated for just one hour. He had pleaded not guilty to multiple counts against former students of St Patrick's CBS primary school on Patrick Street, Portarlington.
The Abuse:
The complainants gave harrowing evidence of being sexually assaulted by Coughlan when he called them to the front of the class and placed them on his lap while instructing other children to read. The abuse occurred in multiple locations:
The classroom — in front of other pupils
A small library in the school
A shed beside the schoolyard
The front seat of a van driven by Coughlan
Most victims were in sixth class with Coughlan as their teacher, though at least one assault involved a first-class pupil.
Victims' Testimony:
"We just thought it was normal. We didn't know any different," one victim said. "I have the memory that he smelled of chalk and sweat."
The men told the court they never disclosed the abuse to their parents, with one explaining: "If you told your parents you had been punished at school, they would ask you what you did that you deserved that."
Prosecution counsel William Fennelly told the jury: "The manner of how they gave their evidence screams as loudly as anything I could say to you. Grown men are now saying what they could not say as little boys."
The Investigation:
The first complaints in the Portarlington case were made in 2022, after the men read media reports of Coughlan being charged over the Kilkenny offences. Detective Garda Elaine Conlon, who led the investigation, told the court that most complainants had presumed Coughlan was dead. Some individuals approached during the investigation declined to make statements, saying they "had put that behind them."
Coughlan did not give evidence but denied all allegations in a voluntary interview, claiming they were untrue.
Previous Convictions:
The jury was not informed that Coughlan was already in prison, having been convicted in 2023 of abusing 24 former pupils at CBS Kilkenny boys' primary school. A Garda investigation into the Kilkenny crimes in the late 1990s had not resulted in charges at that time.
Aftermath:
Coughlan, who is married and had been living in Co Waterford, was moved from Kilkenny to Portarlington at the start of the 1980s and made school principal. He has significant health problems.
Judge Keenan Johnson praised the complainants in court, telling them they could take pride that their voices had now been heard. At least one of the men was crying as the verdict was delivered.
Coughlan's barrister, Maurice Coffey, had unsuccessfully applied for the trial to be stopped due to the 40-year delay between the offences and charges.
Sentencing is scheduled for later this month, when victim-impact statements will be heard.