Convicted paedophile to be housed in secret location

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 today.

The initial 36-year sentence was imposed by Judge A.G. 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.

Barrister for the State, Donal McCarthy, said yesterday that what Judge Murphy wanted to do could not be done.

"The State accepts that," Mr McCarthy BL said.

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, Brother 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.

Judge Moran said, "I am happy with the institution as an appropriate place for him. There may be some concern as to why it has not been named in open court.

"There have been difficulties in the past because of publicity surrounding places.

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

Management of institutions are entitled to properly manage their places. A balance has to be struck. Publicity here in court might interfere with that. It is for that reason I asked Brother O’Shea to write down the name and address of the place."

Victims of the sexual abuse reacted angrily to what happened in court.