Brayrockedby Rehabsexscandal

April 1985

A local woman was this week at the centre of an allegation that a sex ring was in operation at a Bray training centre for the handicapped. The claim arose during an unfair dismissal case brought before the Employment Appeals Tribunal by Mrs Joan O’Toole, a former manager of the National Rehabilitation Workshop off Boghall Road. The tribunal heard that the centre had been closed for a fortnight in May 1982 after a ‘very serious’ problem had arisen and there were also allegations that trainees with homosexual and criminal backgrounds were admitted to the centre. When asked to comment about the claim at her home on Tuesday, she said she had nothing to say about the matter. The claims were raised at the tribunal by her counsel. At the centre, supervisor Jim Hayden said that his 11 strong staff were feeling ‘very sore’ about the allegations. ‘As far as I can see this matter has been blown out of all proportion. It’s business as usual as far as we are concerned.’ Mr Hayden, who was not employed at the centre at the time of the alleged incident in 1982, said he understood it had been a relatively minor matter and had been dealt with. The suggestions about the sex ring were rejected by the institute, who said that no proof was ever uncovered that a sex ring existed at the Bray centre. Asked if evidence was adduced that homosexual activities had taken place at the Bray Centre, chief executive Frank Flannery said that sufficient informations had come forward for the gardai to advise that a number of trainees should not return to the centre.