Founder of Irish college may have been ‘Irish Jimmy Savile’

A TG4 documentary has claimed that the founder of one of this country’s biggest Irish colleges could be an “Irish Jimmy Savile” and may have abused dozens of victims.

Domhnall Ó Lubhlaí, who ran Coláiste na bhFiann, died last month at home in Mullingar, Co Westmeath. In 2000, he faced 56 charges of sex abuse against 11 children.

The family of some of his victims believe he may have abused up to 100 boys in the 1970s, 1980s and up to 1991 when he was an Irish and religion teacher.

In an interview with one victim, the programme- maker heard from one of Ó Lubhlaí’s students, Liam Ó Maoladha about the allegations.

Ó Maoladha revealed he had deep regrets about not talking to gardaí about his abuse. “I do not know why I didn’t. I’m not proud of that,” he said.

Ó Maoladha did speak with gardaí as they investigated claims by five men who testified that they were abused by Ó Lubhlaí at camps, in hotels, flats, and cinemas in Ros Muc, Athlone, Dublin, Donegal, and Tipperary.

However, the trial collapsed in 2000 when the accused claimed he was on medication during his interviews with detectives in 1998 and 1999.

Last January a former Irish college student made a fresh complaint against Ó Lubhlaí, claiming he abused him between the ages of 12 and 15 during the mid-1970s, a newspaper has reported.

The police were compiling a report and witness statement when Ó Lubhlaí was found dead at his Mullingar home. Just 20 people attended his funeral.

Although there were 11 complaints against him in 2000, it was believed there may have been other victims during his 30 years as a teacher. Ó Lubhlaí always maintained his innocence.