Daily Mass-going paedophile school principal Patrick Barry has been released from prison back into the community in west Clare after serving only 18 months in jail.

Five of the 11 victims of paedophile school principal Patrick Barry hit out at the “wrong and unjust” court decision to reduce his six year jail term to two years.

A priest who described daily Mass-going paedophile, Patrick Barry as a “spiritual man” said yesterday his court testimonial “was not a defence of” the convicted man.

A judge said yesterday a retired 80-year-old school principal had “stolen the youth” of his victims and robbed them of their childhood during sex abuse over a 21-year period.

A victim of paedophile school principal Patrick Barry yesterday described the 80-year-old abuser as a "vicious wolf lying in wait" to abuse the children that came to his school.