Garda investigations into paedophile rugby coach John McClean will continue after he was jailed yesterday for eight years for sexually abusing 23 schoolboys.
McClean targeted pupils in sports changing rooms, classrooms, his own office and during costume fittings for school plays between 1973 and 1990.
The victims were aged between 11 and 17, with some abused over multiple occasions by the English teacher at the prestigious Terenure College, Dublin.
His first known victim, Damien Hetherington, was 12 when he was abused in the early 1970s. Mr Hetherington said McClean “got what he deserved” after being sentenced. Read More
Mr Hetherington (59) said McClean should have been put away for life.
Updated: 18 Feb 2021, 20:47
A VICTIM of vile sex beast John McClean recalled how the evil teacher “terrified” him and said he would hide in Bushy Park to avoid going to school.
Damien Hetherington, 59, said the “dogs in the street were barking” about him 47 years ago but posh Terenure College, where the pervert taught English and coached rugby, and the Carmelite Order who ran it, did nothing.
5
5
Victim Damien Hetherington outside court in DublinCredit: Collins Photo Agency
McClean, 76, from Casimir Avenue, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, was jailed for eight years after he pleaded guilty to abusing 23 boys in the school between 1973 and 1990.
Share this article
A former teacher at Terenure College in Dublin has been jailed for eight years for abusing 23 boys at the private school between 1973 and 1990.
John McClean, of Casimir Avenue, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, abused them through his roles as teacher, rugby coach and costume fitter for school plays.
A complaint was made in 1979, but aside from removing him from his costume fitting duties, no other action was taken.
In 1996, the then head of the Carmelites Order in Ireland became aware that McClean admitted abusing one boy, but it wasn’t brought to garda attention.
Last week, the court heard harrowing evidence of how the abuse impacted the lives of the survivors, with one of them describing McClean as “evil personified”.
Former rugby coach and teacher who abused 23 students over 17 years jailed for eight years
Passing sentence today, Judge Pauline Codd imposed an effective sentence of 11 years imprisonment with the final three years suspended
Updated
John McClean, a former teacher and rugby coach, of Casimir Avenue, Harold s Cross, Dublin 6, has been jailed for eight years (Picture: Collins Courts)
Get the latest news from across Ireland straight to your inbox every single dayInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.