David Murray sat impassively in the dock as eight of his victims filed past him to the witness box to recount the disastrous effect his abuse has had on their lives.They related their problems with sexuality and other relationship difficulties as well as alcoholism, drugs, difficulty keeping a job and homelessness. Some told how they had spent their adult lives in prison or fighting the system.The men thanked Judge Joseph Mathews, the court and gardai for listening to them. Judge Mathews praised their courage and wished them every happiness and success for the future.The first victim to give evidence was a 37-year-old married father of two who was sent to the orphanage at the age of six. At the age of 11 he was sent to the Summerhill house section which was run by Murray.The man said he held the truth of what happened to him within himself until two years ago when the investigation began. He said he was delighted the truth had finally come out."When I was six I was put into care, not to be abused. There were good times and bad times there, but when David Murray was around, there were no good times."Others will have to take account of what happened. They knew about it and did nothing." A 35-year-old separated man said he was sent to the orphanage when he was three and went to Summerhill at the age of 12."From the time I went to Summerhill I don't remember a happy time. Our childhood was taken away from us . . . He ruined my life."The man told Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, prosecuting, the abuse "had everything" to do with his marriage break-up. "My wife said I had a wall built around me and when she wanted to talk about anything the wall kept getting higher and higher. "I spent my life going in an out of prison. Others became alcoholics and some are dead as they couldn't cope. The ones here today, we are the lucky ones."He added that said he did not blame the nuns for what happened and was delighted Murray pleaded guilty.A 38-year-old father of two said he was sent to the orphanage at the age of eight. If he or the other boys did anything, Murray brought them to the "small room" and beat them with hurley sticks or brushes. "When David Murray came to the school he was OK in the beginning, then he showed his true colours. I was abused non-stop and I had to go away for weekends with him."When we complained to the proper authorities they just turned away. I was put in care to be protected and educated. I wasn't protected or educated."Murray's 24-year-old foster son said both he and his brother were fostered by the Southern Health Board when he was five. He was now engaged to be married, had two children and ran his own business. He first heard of the investigation into Murray in March 1995, and he lost a son by cot death in the same year. "I tried to put it [the abuse] in a safe in the back of my mind but it has all been opened up.""I have a brother and sister who were adopted by the accused and I think of them. I also think how it has affected [his own brother]. I even had sex with [brother] while the accused was looking on."I've been in prison for shop lifting. I've been aggressive to my fiancee. I've left her for weeks to go on alcoholic binges. I've been addicted to ecstasy and heroin."A 32-year-old single man said he was an "inmate" in the orphanage from 1967 to the age of 16. He read out a speech he had prepared in which he thanked the two gardai, saying that without them he might not have made a statement.He said he spent five years in the Army, but was thrown out after being given a number of chances to shape up. He used to be an extrovert but after the abuse he was now introverted and almost a recluse.The man said he had been an alcoholic for 15 years and in and out of prison for the past 12 years. He led a chaotic life and "torment is the word to describe the situation"."I didn't know what was wrong. I went to counsellors, but they were no bloody good. I can't cry, I sit there at night and try to cry, but I can't. I can't work, I can only keep myself straight for two to three hours. It's nearly impossible for me to apply my mind for more than three hours. I'm not stupid but I'm getting nowhere fast."I'm getting my act together now, I'm in a flat and I'm not drinking. But it's going to be a long time," he said.A 36-year-old father of one child said his wife had been very understanding when he met her but in the last two years their marriage had begun to deteriorate.She was fed up and she wanted him to do something about it. The abuse had been embedded on his mind and it had affected his ability to get work and he had lost several jobs because he could not concentrate."It's taken me a lot of courage to come here to say what I had to say. I hope the accused will beg forgiveness for himself from God."Others had similar stories to tell.