A Franciscan Brother who sexually abused five boys over a nine-year period was attacked by one of his victims in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gardai and prison officers had to restrain the man, who earlier testified that he had a nervous breakdown and became an alcoholic as a result of the abuse.
The court heard Garda evidence that Brother Joseph Keegan's superiors in the Franciscan Order knew about the abuse three years before a victim reported it to gardai.
Keegan (58) of Nutley Lane, Dublin 4, pleaded guilty to eight sample charges of gross indecency and sexual assault of a total of 57 counts. Judge Michael White heard that Keegan abused two altar boys and three members of a football team he coached. All the boys were under 13.
There were emotional scenes in the courtroom throughout the hearing. Two of Keegan's victims walked out as he apologised and another shouted: "Don't tell us you're sorry."
One of the victims told the court that he came very close to slitting Keegan's throat. He then turned to Keegan and told him he was very lucky to be alive. Later nine gardai and prison officers formed a shield around Keegan as he was taken into custody for sentencing on April 29th.
Det-Sgt Walter Kilcullen told prosecuting counsel Mr Tom O'Connell that on many occasions, Keegan smuggled boys up to his room in the Franciscan monastery in Merchant's Quay. His victims were also abused while having showers after football matches and on outings to Galway and Donegal.
Judge White heard evidence that two of the boys tried to commit suicide since the abuse took place. One of the victims later confronted Keegan as he drove a mini-bus of children in Church Street, Dublin. The man shouted: "You f..ked up my life, you pervert", to which Keegan replied: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Det-Sgt Kilcullen said that one victim was a member of a football team organised by Keegan. On Sundays, Keegan would tell one of the boys to come into a separate changing area before sexually abusing him. One of the boys was abused over 100 times. On a trip to a Franciscan monastery in Galway, Keegan brought three boys up to his room and abused them. One of the victims started drinking heavily when he was 14 and his behaviour lead to trouble with the gardai. In 1991, the man had a nervous breakdown and spent time in a mental hospital. He still has suicidal feelings and has difficulty expressing emotions to children.
The second-named victim was seven when he joined the football team. One day Keegan asked him to stay in a mini-van used to transport the boys to a football pitch. He then began to sexually abuse the boy and said: "Nobody's looking; it's all right."
Another victim was smuggled into the monastery by Keegan who hid him behind a door when another Brother approached. Later, Keegan brought the boy to his room where he was abused.
Det-Sgt Kilcullen agreed with defence counsel Mr Patrick MacEntee that Keegan returned to Dublin from Rome for questioning and again for his arrest.i had no evidence that Keegan had threatened any of the boys.
There were angry scenes in the court during evidence by Mr Pat Randall, a counsellor attached to the Granada Institute for sex offenders, who was frequently interrupted by Keegan's victims and their families. Mr Randall confirmed Det-Sgt Kilcullen's statements that Keegan's superiors knew about the abuse in 1992, three years before a victim reported it to the gardai. He added that Keegan was sent to Rome and early in 1995 he returned to Ireland for counselling, a number of months before the abuse was reported.
Keegan had an alcoholic father and his family were very poor, Mr Randall said. He always harboured feelings of inferiority, especially when he came into contact with men in the Franciscan order who were more articulate and better educated than he was. He then sought emotional and sexual relief through the abuse of young people, Mr Randall said. Keegan has now come to appreciate better the extent of the wrong he had done and was taking a positive attitude to counselling, he said.
Judge White said he needed to give very serious consideration to the facts and remanded Keegan in custody until April 29th.