At least 233 men have come forward with allegations of abuse by 77 Irish Spiritan priests, some of whom were serial abusers who had uncontrolled access to children in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Here are four of the priests against whom allegations have been made : Fr Tom O’Byrne: Originally from Limerick, he became a teacher at St Michael’s College, Dublin in 1962 before moving to Blackrock College in 1967. School records show that he was still a member of the school community until at least 1996/97. He faced multiple charges of sexually abusing children during the 2000s. Several former students say they were molested by him in the school pool and in the rectory. The Director of Public Prosecutions charged Fr O’Byrne with 37 offenses arising from sexual abuse, but in 2007 the High Court dismissed it on the basis that the priest was then 87 years old. He died in 2010. [ Blackrock College abuse: ‘Code of omerta’ finally shattered by brothers’ bravery ] Fr Senan Corry: Fr Corry was appointed to Blackrock College in 1957 and became a teacher at Willow Park School. Played a key role in coaching junior rugby teams. When he retired from teaching, he remained part of the college community until at least the late 1990s. A former student who says he was abused by Corey said he had easy access to the border and describes him as a “predator.” Another says he went to the headmaster of Blackrock College at the time and ended up in a meeting with the headmaster, priest and his parents in which Fr Corry denied any abuse. “I was 12. I never got over it,” the former student told Liveline this week. He said he went from being a high achiever and captain of the football teams to a destructive, angry child and, later in life, addicted to heroin. Fr Corry died in 2004. Fr Patrick Aloysius Flood: From Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, Fr Patrick Aloysius Flood was a former pupil of Blackrock College. He was appointed as a teacher at Willow Park in the primary section of the school in 1960 and worked in various roles until 1977. A former pupil recalls waking up one night and being severely sexually assaulted by Flood. “I was a pious, innocent 11-year-old who slept in my bed and boarded at Willow Park. I had no idea what was going on.” Fr Flood was later appointed headmaster of St Michael’s in 1977 before returning to Blackrock College in 1983 as dean of the boarding school. He spent many years as curate in Dalkey Parish in the 1990s. He died in 2013. [ Raw tales from Blackrock College are as disturbing as anything from the Magdalene laundries ] Brother Luke McCaffrey: From Clogher, Co Tyrone, Brother Luke McCaffrey joined Blackrock College initially as a gardener in 1950 before securing a teaching role at Willow Park from 1955-1995. He taught religion and was in charge of the Holy Communion lessons. A former student, who served as an altar boy, describes being groomed and later abused. “I resisted as best I could,” he recalls. “And that’s when the anger set in. The violence. The first time he raped me the pain was incredible – he did it with rage.” McCaffrey left the school community around 2000 and died in 2002.
