Updated: 4.45pm
"It's never too late to come forward," a former victim of paedophile rugby coach John McClean said as the 78-year-old was handed a further four-year prison sentence on Friday for the sexual abuse of 22 boys.
John McClean (78), of Casimir Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin, is currently serving an eight-year sentence, for abusing 23 Terenure College pupils. The sentence was handed down in 2021.
On Friday, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced McClean to four years in prison, which will run consecutively to his current prison sentence and will begin when that sentence is served in February 2027. McClean will be 84 upon his release from prison.
In January, McClean affirmed guilty pleas to four counts of indecent assault relating to two boys during the 1980s. This week, McClean pleaded guilty to a further 23 counts of abusing 20 boys at the college between 1971 and 1992.
Most of the charges are of indecent assault, while two are of sexual assault, which was carried out against a student in the 1990s. He has 96 previous convictions, all for indecent assault of young boys under the age of 18 who attended Terenure College.
Passing sentence on Friday, Judge Martin Nolan said: "This court has to deal with the abuse of boys under the accused's care over a protracted period of time.
"There are 22 complainants in the case, with some of them having been abused on a single occasion and others were abused three, four, six, seven and up to eight times."
It seems from the evidence that I have heard that no one took any steps to stop the abuse
Judge Nolan added: "Over a period of time, he abused these boys, he was a teacher and in a position of trust. He used that position to gratify his own needs."
The judge said McClean "had these boys in his power" adding the accused's behaviour had a long-term effect on the boys and third parties. "And it seems from the evidence that I have heard that no one took any steps to stop the abuse," the judge noted.
"He was determined and persistent and abused over a long period of time," Judge Nolan said.
The judge said there was mitigation in this case, such as McClean's guilty pleas, his expression of remorse, and the well-deserved public shaming which the accused has received. He also took into consideration McClean's age and that he is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Judge Nolan said he would have imposed a longer sentence on McClean if he was not already serving a substantial sentence. Judge Nolan said globally, McClean will be serving a 12-year sentence.
He finished by thanking the complainants who were present in court and who had watched the sentencing online via video link.
The court heard that two books of evidence were served, with 22 victims in total. Any offences committed before 1990 are referred to as indecent assault. In 1991, a new act was introduced which changed the charge of indecent assault to sexual assault. The sentencing term available to judges also increased.
The court heard that there was a total of 53 counts within both books of evidence. The sentencing terms were outlined to the court. Counts one to 15 carry a maximum of a five years prison sentence, counts 16 to 41 carry a maximum of a 10-year sentence, and counts 42 to 49 carry a maximum five-year prison sentence with the remaining four counts carrying a maximum of a 10-year sentence.
A number of pupils whom McClean abused at Terenure College were present in court over the two-day hearing, with some joining the proceedings via video link from overseas.
Victims
Damien Hetherington, who waived his anonymity, previously stood on the steps of the Criminal Courts of Justice in 2021 and encouraged any other victims to come forward.
One Friday, he said he was humbled after being thanked by the victims of the crimes relating to Friday's sentencing for speaking out.
Mr Hetherington said the men told him: "If it wasn’t for the interview I did the last time, they would not have come forward."
He also pointed out what Judge Martin Nolan highlighted on Friday - "Why was this allowed to go on for thirty years?"
Mr Hetherington said waiving his anonymity was well worth it and that he has received messages from others in different schools from around the country who are now coming forward.
He once again put out a plea for victims, urging: "It is never too late to come forward. Lads are probably saying it’s too late for what was done to me, but it’s never too late."
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/, or visit Rape Crisis Help.
In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
