I've been watching this from afar and wondering how much more can come out before this whole dreadful business can ever be over. The powers that be seem to have scant regard for the victims, who don't have to have been actually abused to be a victim. The fear of abuse renders one a victim, too.
That's a very good point, Jan. And yes, it was always seems to be a case of the interests of the Order and its schools are considered far superior to the interests of children. And they still conceal the names!
I joined Belvedere in 1990, in first year. Some of the lads in that year had come through the Junior school and they’ve recently been talking of a guy called “Terry Byrne”. Apparently he was around 35-40 so may still be alive. He was friends with one of the well known abusers.
I didn’t witness any of the claims below but have heard directly from people who did.
He was in charge of rugby and insisted everyone showered naked, aged 8. He brought a camera into the showers. Kids who refused to shower naked were given detention.
During French class he would stuff marshmallows into kids mouths as “prizes”. Adults recalling this are disgusted.
Terry had his favourites, some are concerned they haven’t heard anything about those kids in a long time.
Many students raised concerns, most ignored.
After some adult complaints he left the school to apparently set up a language school. No one knows where he is now.
I think it would be important to find his location in the hope that some witnesses would make complaints to Garda.
Thank you so much for getting in touch. The name rings a bell but of this this was way after my time (I left in 1977). It's certainly essential that these complaints are made - and through the proper channels. I would suggest that one or two of those whose lives were affected in this way might take to the Gardai and see where it might take them. I do know that the Gardai are enormously helpful in this area.
I was a Junior and Senior school pupil in Belvedere from 1964 to 1974. I never experienced , saw or heard of sexual abuse while I was there. There was plenty of corporal punishment however, right up to 4th year in Senior School - 1972. I did not have a problem with this as it was never excessive nor administered in the heat of the moment.
However, I do remember even as I child, why did Fr. O’Sullivan look down on us from the main window on the first floor of the Junior school every class and lunch break as we played “Bulldog” and other games. It struck me as odd even then, but then his support for Shamrock Rovers struck me then as even odder as Belvedere was totally a rugby playing school.
Despite the unusual behaviour of being observed in the playground, Fr. O’Sullivan never came across in class as anything other than a kind and decent priest. I would be horrified if he were to be named on the list.
Similarly Fr. Hubert Delaney. He was Prefect of Studies while I was in the Junior School, and while very strict, and being well able to administer corporal punishment, he always struck me as a fair and humourous man. Please God he is not on the list of possible offenders.
That's very interesting about Fr O'Sullivan but, like you, I never recall him behaving in any way improperly. The one I forgot to mention was Fr Brangan of whom I was very fond, a kindly and gentle man who had the unenviable task of teaching us RE. I would be horrified to see such names on the list but I think it's vital that it's published so that we don't find ourselves speculating about blameless individuals.
I've been watching this from afar and wondering how much more can come out before this whole dreadful business can ever be over. The powers that be seem to have scant regard for the victims, who don't have to have been actually abused to be a victim. The fear of abuse renders one a victim, too.
That's a very good point, Jan. And yes, it was always seems to be a case of the interests of the Order and its schools are considered far superior to the interests of children. And they still conceal the names!
I joined Belvedere in 1990, in first year. Some of the lads in that year had come through the Junior school and they’ve recently been talking of a guy called “Terry Byrne”. Apparently he was around 35-40 so may still be alive. He was friends with one of the well known abusers.
I didn’t witness any of the claims below but have heard directly from people who did.
He was in charge of rugby and insisted everyone showered naked, aged 8. He brought a camera into the showers. Kids who refused to shower naked were given detention.
During French class he would stuff marshmallows into kids mouths as “prizes”. Adults recalling this are disgusted.
Terry had his favourites, some are concerned they haven’t heard anything about those kids in a long time.
Many students raised concerns, most ignored.
After some adult complaints he left the school to apparently set up a language school. No one knows where he is now.
I think it would be important to find his location in the hope that some witnesses would make complaints to Garda.
Hi Eoin
Thank you so much for getting in touch. The name rings a bell but of this this was way after my time (I left in 1977). It's certainly essential that these complaints are made - and through the proper channels. I would suggest that one or two of those whose lives were affected in this way might take to the Gardai and see where it might take them. I do know that the Gardai are enormously helpful in this area.
I was a Junior and Senior school pupil in Belvedere from 1964 to 1974. I never experienced , saw or heard of sexual abuse while I was there. There was plenty of corporal punishment however, right up to 4th year in Senior School - 1972. I did not have a problem with this as it was never excessive nor administered in the heat of the moment.
However, I do remember even as I child, why did Fr. O’Sullivan look down on us from the main window on the first floor of the Junior school every class and lunch break as we played “Bulldog” and other games. It struck me as odd even then, but then his support for Shamrock Rovers struck me then as even odder as Belvedere was totally a rugby playing school.
Despite the unusual behaviour of being observed in the playground, Fr. O’Sullivan never came across in class as anything other than a kind and decent priest. I would be horrified if he were to be named on the list.
Similarly Fr. Hubert Delaney. He was Prefect of Studies while I was in the Junior School, and while very strict, and being well able to administer corporal punishment, he always struck me as a fair and humourous man. Please God he is not on the list of possible offenders.
Dear Joseph
That's very interesting about Fr O'Sullivan but, like you, I never recall him behaving in any way improperly. The one I forgot to mention was Fr Brangan of whom I was very fond, a kindly and gentle man who had the unenviable task of teaching us RE. I would be horrified to see such names on the list but I think it's vital that it's published so that we don't find ourselves speculating about blameless individuals.