Not the college I remember

I AM deeply saddened and truly horrified at the allegations and revelations that have come into the public domain about my old alma mater, Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear.

I am also overcome with profound compassion for the victims of these alleged events.

I was educated by The Missionaries of The Sacred Heart for the entire period of my secondary education from 1963 to 1968. At this time, the college was for boarders only.

Also at this time, students were educated in the college at Western Road up to Intermediate Certificate and then completed their studies up to Leaving Certificate in Carraig na bhFear. In 1965, a new college was opened in Carraig na bhFear to accommodate all pupils and I was among the first group of students to reside there.

I can honestly say that, apart from initial loneliness, my time in the college was a positive experience. We received an excellent academic education and our personal and sporting developmental needs were well anticipated.

During my time in Carraig na Bhfear An tAthair MacCarthaig, or ”Denny” as we used to call him, was my Latin teacher, our study dean and also our sports co-ordinator.

He was a committed teacher and was rarely absent from study. In the evenings and at weekends, he supervised our sporting and recreational activities.

Amid the all horror stories of abuse being focussed on priests, among others, I was proud to say that, during my time as boarder in a college exclusively administered by priests, I was never abused, that I never witnessed abuse and that I never heard of abuse.

Here I am now, some 43 years later, trying to tell myself that what I am hearing and reading is not for real and trying to analyse how such a committed and dedicated person such as ”Denny” could mutate to be the monster he is now alleged to be and how the college that I have so many happy memories of is now described as a ”concentration camp”.

Dan J Scannell

Cloverhill

Sligo