School under fire for giving paedophile employment
Calls for information were made by Justice Minister Alan Shatter, Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Sinn Féin Donegal TD Pearse Doherty and the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland.
One of the directors of Coláiste Cholmcille in Bunbeg, Donal Ó Loinsigh, yesterday said Ferry was not employed by the school after his conviction for sexual assault in 2002, but admitted he continued to do “odd jobs” around the building, which he claimed were “under supervision”.
Mr Doherty said it was “absolutely astounding” that the college continued to give Ferry casual work and said that the owners had “serious questions” to answer.
Ferry was sentenced on Monday to 18 years for raping and sexually abusing four boys at Coláiste Cholmcille.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ferry received a six-month suspended sentence in 2002 and was placed on the sex offenders’ register. It heard Ferry continued to work at the school, and raped and sexually abused boys, up until September 2005.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan told Mr Shatter:
On October 16, 2002, gardaí informed the health board of Ferry’s conviction and where he was believed to be working.
The school’s owner was in court for the 2002 criminal proceedings.
A garda spoke to the school owner about the conviction and expressed his concerns about Ferry continuing to work at the school.
Mr Shatter said: “This makes it all the more necessary for those who chose to continue the employment of this person to explain themselves.”
Mr Ó Loinsigh said Ferry was never contractually employed and had worked on a casual basis before his conviction. After the conviction, he said, Ferry continued to do “odd-jobs under supervision”.
Ferry’s first victim called the system that allowed him to continue to work at the school “a joke”.
24-hour rape crisis helpline: 1800 778 888.
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