TWO members of a Catholic religious order have been returned for trial in Northern Ireland on 41 charges of sexually abusing young boys.
Brother Joseph Scally (61) and Brother Thomas Tierney (74) are alleged to have committed the offences between October 1964 and December 1970, at a former De La Salle boys' home near Kircubbin, Co Down, and in north Antrim and west Belfast.
The pair, with addresses at the De La Salle headquarters at Castletown, Portlaoise, appeared at a preliminary inquiry in Newtownards, Co Down, yesterday. They were returned for trial to Downpatrick Crown Court on January 3rd.
Both replied "no" to the charges. They were released on their own bail of £500.