…AND STILL NEW ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE CONTINUE TO EMERGE
THE St John of God order this week reported further new allegations of child abuse against Brother Aidan Clohessy to gardaí and child protection agency Tusla.
The latest allegation – by former pupil Patsy Carville – brings to 25 the number of students who say he abused them at St Augustine’s special school in south Dublin.
Five of these cases have been unearthed in recent weeks by a continuing Irish Mail on Sunday investigation and will now be the focus of a Garda investigation.
In a statement, Mr Carville – who was nine years old when he was sent to the Blackrock school – alleges that he was beaten and forced to strip by Brother Aidan.
Like other alleged victims in Africa, he claims that Brother Aidan habitually ordered boys to strip and shower in his presence. He also details an incident when he was alone with Brother Aidan: ‘He told me to take down my underpants. Then he told me to turn around and not to look at him. He was not hitting me during this time – just standing behind me. Then after a few minutes he beat the a*** off me with his bare hand.’
The experience appears remarkably similar to that of Joe Devine, another former pupil who broke years of silence to speak to the MoS last week.
In a statement last night, a spokesperson for St John of God said it had ‘reported all allegations it has been made aware of to the authorities and will co-operate fully with any investigation’.
It reiterated ‘its unreserved apology to any individual who suffered any form of abuse while in its care’.