A retired religious brother was yesterday given the longest prison sentence for sex abuse, 36 years, after pleading guilty to 18 sample counts of indecent assault on three boys in the 1950s and 1960s.
Judge A.G. Murphy said he had to register the indignation of society at the horrific abuse in the sentence he imposed on James Kelly (74), also known as Brother Ambrose, a member of the Brothers of Charity once based at Lota, Glanmire, Co Cork.
The victims wanted to see Kelly punished with a jail sentence. "Their experience at the hands of this man has rendered their lives little short of a permanent crucifixion," said Judge Murphy.
He jailed Kelly for two years on each of the 18 charges, to run consecutively, but for review in 18 months' time. The 18 sample charges were among 72 charges of indecent assault against Kelly.
They covered 1956 to 1968 when Kelly was working at the Lota home for orphans and boys with learning difficulties.
Three former residents of the home told Cork Circuit Criminal Court how Kelly abused them regularly throughout their teens.
Mr Alan Carroll (48) told of how the sexual abuse by Kelly on a weekly basis made him feel "like dirt and only dirt".
"I was a young boy of 14 when I went to Lota . . . I never thought such devilish things were taking place in Lota School . . . I never expected to be bullied, threatened or whipped down," he said.
"All the other lads in the school were probably going through the same thing," said Mr Carroll, adding that Kelly was the worst of six brothers who abused him there.
Mr Joe O'Driscoll (56) said he twice almost took his life as a result of the trauma of being abused. "We went through f.....g hell there, and if we told any one about it, we got a clip around the head," he said.
"People like him shouldn't be in the flipping world. People can say let bygones be bygones, but to hell with that," he said. He would never forget what had happened to him at Kelly's hands.
The third victim, a 47-year-old married man who did not wish to be named, said he had twice almost committed suicide. He had difficulty sleeping for years, though he had gone for counselling at his local rape crisis centre, which helped.
"We suffered hell. Hell should be returned to him," he said when asked if he thought Kelly should be jailed.
Dressed in a navy jacket, Kelly sat with his head bowed as his victims told their stories.
Sgt Senan Ryan, who led the six-year investigation, said Kelly denied abuse when first questioned in 1996 but after another Brother of Charity was convicted, further complaints were made about him.
He was re-interviewed by gardai and admitted abusing the boys, though he did not remember abusing one of them. Kelly would masturbate the boys and then get them to masturbate him and perform oral sex on him.
The court heard that Kelly had a number of convictions for child sex abuse in England where he went after leaving Lota. He had received a suspended jail sentence and was put under the supervision of the probation service in England.
A British consultant psychologist, Dr Royston Williams, said he began treating Kelly years ago. Kelly admitted he had abused a number of boys but did not seem to realise the damage he had done to them.
With counselling Kelly had come to appreciate the harm he had done and was deeply remorseful, he said.
Kelly had been abused as a boy when he was put into an orphanage after his parents' deaths. "He never had a chance to develop a healthy sexuality. Abuse was the only recognition he received," said Dr Williams.
"I do think he has suffered a great deal facing up to himself as an abuser and the damage he has done to other people. That will remain with him for the rest of his life. He has a lot of remorse."
Judge Murphy asked if, as a sign of his remorse, Kelly would volunteer to go to prison to assuage his victims' hurt.
Taking the stand, Kelly spoke firmly as he said he very much regretted the abuse and was willing to go to jail. "I would volunteer and accept a prison sentence if that was decided in my situation," he told Judge Murphy.
The judge said all the psychiatric assessments and Kelly's personal circumstances had to be taken into account. "But they do not excuse the offence that took place nor diminish its gravity. These were young children," he noted.
He pointed out that Kelly's breach of trust was all the greater because his victims were disadvantaged and vulnerable. Many of those at Lota had no parents and in those circumstances when that trust was breached, "the evil is bottomless".
Judge Murphy said he would review the sentence in 18 months and, provided there were no adverse reports on Kelly at that stage, he would release him.