Man tells court of sexual abuse at hands of teacher

A man has told a jury that he suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of his primary school teacher almost forty years ago.

The 66-year-old accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not (NOT) guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 55 charges of indecent assault at the Sligo school on dates between July 1, 1968 and June 30, 1977.

He has denied 14 charges in relation to the first two complainants, nine charges in relation to a third, 17 charges in relation to a fourth complainant and one charge in relation to another boy.

The fifth complainant told Ms Mary Rose Gearty SC (with Ms Dara Foynes BL), prosecuting, that he was often brought up to the teacher’s desk and one time the accused asked him to give a kiss.

He said on another occasion the accused wrapped himself around him, put his arm around his waist, put his hands down his trousers and felt his private parts.

He told the jury that he was psychologically abused and also recalled being locked in a cupboard on one occasion.

The man told Mr Hugh Hartnett SC (with Ms Siobhan Ni Chulachain BL), defending, that he was made stand in front of the accused between his legs.

He said he could not recollect if the accused touched him inside or outside his underwear and accepted that he should be able to recall details like that.

The man said he had a “very vivid memory” of being continuously slapped across the face by his teacher, while the man was smiling at him.

He agreed with counsel that he did not like his former teacher and did not enjoy being in his class.

The complainant accepted that he made a separate allegation of sexual abuse by a former tutor, which he had reported to the gardaí around the same time as he made a statement in relation to this accused, but he said he was never informed if that man had ever been prosecuted.

He did not accept a suggestion from Mr Hartnett that he was never kissed by the accused. “That’s a falsehood,” he said.

He also refused to accept a suggestion that he had never been locked in a cupboard.

In response to a suggestion from Mr Hartnett that what he had testified in court was “untrue”, the complainant replied: “What I have relayed to you is true.”

He accepted that he had issued civil proceedings in relation to the accused.

When asked by counsel if he said “at any stage” that he had felt supported that other people were “saying things”, the complainant replied: “I can’t remember saying that but it does sound familiar so possibly I did”.

When asked by Ms Gearty in re-examination if he was making these allegations “to obtain money”, the complainant replied “I am saying these things to obtain justice.”

He agreed with counsel that the gardaí had not told him what to say in his statement of complaint. “God no,” he said.

A number of witnesses testified before the jury that they had also been in the accused’s class.

One man said he had witnessed the fifth complainant being brought up to the accused’s desk where he was placed on the teacher’s knee who then felt the child’s private parts.

In response to a suggestion from Mr Hartnett that he was mistaken in what he had testified, the man replied: “You can suggest what you like. I know what I saw.”

Another man said the second and third complainant spent most of their time up at the accused’s desk.

He said he could not see what was happening but said they were up nearly every day and stayed there for a long time.

A third man said he specifically remembered the second complainant being held quite close to the accused. He said the boy was clearly uncomfortable about this because he was crying at the time.

A fourth man told the jury that he saw the second complainant sitting on the accused’s knee during class time.

The trial continues before Judge Patrick McCartan and a jury of seven men and five women.