Jailed paedophile brother to be set free

BROTHER AMBROSE — the serial paedophile who sexually abused boys in his care for decades – will walk out of prison next Saturday and go to a secret location for counselling after serving three years of a 36-year sentence.

That is the outcome of a court hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.

The initial 36-year sentence was given by Judge AG Murphy (now retired) on November 23, 1999. It was to be reviewed after 18 months and Kelly released if a suitable place could be found for him to live within the Brothers of Charity. He was to stay out of Ireland for the rest of his life.

Defence senior counsel Kevin Cross said publicity surrounding places where it had been proposed to send Kelly had resulted in it not being possible.

This arose through objections to the British and Belgian governments about proposals to house Kelly in Brothers of Charity institutions in those countries. So it was agreed between the State, the defence and Judge Moran that the location where Kelly is to be housed from next Saturday would be a secret known only to them.

The superior of the Brothers of Charity in Ireland, Br. John O’Shea got into the witness box and wrote down the name and address of the institution.

This note was passed to Judge Moran and then passed to the prosecution barrister. It was not indicated if the address was in Ireland or not.

“I know the victims want to know. I can just assure them it is a safe place a secure place and a proper place.”

The Brothers of Charity gave an undertaking to have Kelly attend the Laffoy commission on child abuse.

He has done so already and will appear again if required, said superior of the Brothers of Charity in Ireland, Brother John O’Shea said.