Review due on sex offender working at school

THE HSE is due next month to complete a review into how a caretaker on the sex offenders register remained working at a Donegal school and was able to rape and sexually assault four boys — even though he had already been convicted of abuse at the school.

Michael Ferry abused the four boys on an almost weekly basis, some for as long as four years — despite receiving a six-month suspended sentence for sexual abuse in 2002. He abused the boys between 1990 and 2005 even though he was on the sex offenders register between 2002 and 2007.

After sentencing him to 14 years at the Central Criminal Court last summer, Mr Justice Paul Carney said the authorities must have been aware Ferry had a conviction for a similar offence. Justice Minister Alan Shatter asked the Garda Commissioner to investigate if, after the first conviction, gardaí and the HSE had contact with the school management.

“I am particularly calling on those in charge of this school to explain how this individual continued to be employed as a caretaker in the school and whether at any time they considered the risk he posed to children,” said Mr Shatter.

When questioned by the Irish Examiner on the progress of the Department of Justice’s investigations, a spokesman said: “A garda investigation into certain matters including the circumstances surrounding the person’s employment is continuing and we are not in a position to make any further comment pending completion of that investigation.”

The HSE said: “We established a review team to assess the response of the HSE /former NWHB services following a referral from An Garda Síochána in 2002 relating to Michael Ferry and the intervening period to July 2011. The report is expected to be completed by March 2012.”

Ferry, of Bunbeg, Gweedore, was working at Ard Scoil Mhuire in Derrybeg, a former school building used for Irish language courses.

The boys were not pupils at the Irish language school.

Last summer, the directors of Coláiste Cholmcille said it was “factually incorrect” to say Ferry continued in his role as caretaker after 2002.

They said he was dismissed from his formal post but did “necessary repairs” on the building in subsequent years when the building was vacant and Ferry was always in the company of other building workers.