DUBLIN: Former Fianna Fáil councilor and ex-secondary school teacher, Gerard O’Brien, 59, hailing from Thurles, Tipperary, has been found guilty by the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting six young men during the 1990s. Despite his former role as a state solicitor, O’Brien, who is limbless, was convicted on multiple counts after a seven-and-a-half-hour deliberation by the ten-member jury. The sentencing is scheduled for March 4. Responding to the verdict, Minister of Justice Helen McEndy stated that the government and parliamentary committees will carefully consider the implications of this case.
The charges against O’Brien span from March 1991 to November 1997, with six individuals aged between 17 and 24 coming forward with allegations. The victims, three of whom were former students, accused O’Brien of sexual assaults, including incidents of rape while they were asleep and in a restroom. O’Brien allegedly exploited his position of authority, manipulating the victims by providing alcohol and other inducements.
The court learned of instances where a teacher took a student home and subjected them to abuse, prompting the victim to flee and report the incident to the principal. Another victim, molested during junior certificate studies, encountered O’Brien through a school musical class and was subsequently harassed in a pub.
Initially pleading not guilty, O’Brien later informed gardaí that he had consensual relations with three of the victims. In his defence, lawyer Michael O’Higgins urged the court to consider the historical context of 30 years ago, acknowledging the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland. O’Higgins argued that O’Brien’s denial of certain encounters was rooted in shame, emphasising the consensual nature of some interactions while suggesting potential misunderstandings or falsehoods from the other three accusers.
Irish Samachar English News