Ex-hurling coach jailed for sexually abusing two boys

A judge yesterday jailed a 69-year-old former hurling coach for the sexual abuse of two young boys for two years — both of whom tried to take their lives and became addicted to alcohol in the years after the abuse.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Carroll Moran said that James ‘Tony’ Maher’ carried out a breach of trust in abusing one of the victims who Maher coached hurling to at the Banner GAA club’s u12 and u14 hurling sides in Ennis.

Former chairman, PRO and founder member of the Banner GAA club, James ‘Tony’ Maher, 69, of Clonroad Beg, Ennis pleaded guilty to 18 separate counts of indecent assault on the two boys on dates between Jan 1982 and Apr 15, 1985.