THE DIRECTORS of Coláiste Cholmcille Irish language school in Donegal have denied they continued to employ a child sex abuser as caretaker following his conviction in 2002 for sexually assaulting a child in the 1980s.
But they have said Michael Ferry, who was convicted this week of the rape and sexual assault of four boys between 1990 and 2005, was allowed to assist with adult courses and undertake “repairs” following his conviction in 2002.
Ferry was given an 18-year sentence at the Central Criminal court on Monday for the latest convictions.
During his trial it was said he continued his role as caretaker at the Ard Scoil Mhuire school building in Derrybeg used by the Irish language college, following his first conviction for sexually assaulting a child in 2002.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said he was “appalled” that the school had not complied with child protection guidelines by allowing him to continue to work.
A preliminary Garda report into the matter said the force’s records showed the then northwestern health board was informed by gardaí, in accordance with the Children First guidelines, of Ferry’s conviction and of where he was believed to be working.
In a statement yesterday the directors of Coláiste Cholmcille expressed their deepest regret to the victims of the convicted sexual offender.
But they said it was “factually incorrect” to say Ferry continued in his role as caretaker after his first conviction.
“Following his arrest in 2001 and prior to his subsequent conviction he was dismissed from his post as caretaker . . . he was never subsequently re-employed as caretaker to the building,” it said.
But the directors said Ferry was subsequently allowed to “participate in effecting necessary repairs” on the building on an intermittent basis and in the company of other building workers.
“He assisted on occasions, in the presence of college staff with some aspects of our adult courses, during which time no junior courses ever operated,” they said.
The directors added that he was never unaccompanied and never provided with keys to the building.
During the trial it emerged that Ferry continued to have access to the building subsequent to his dismissal as caretaker in 2001.
The directors said any other access to the buildings apart from when Ferry undertook repairs or assisted with adult classes were “totally unauthorised”.
“With the benefit of hindsight, in the light of the information now available we regret having allowed this . . . Coláiste Cholmcille wishes to express its profound shock at these new revelations.
“We wish again to express our deepest regret to those who have suffered appalling wrongs,” they said.
In light of the current controversy, Irish college umbrella group Concos asked Coláiste Cholmcille to withdraw its membership of the body.
Gearóid Ó Brosnacháin, from Concos, which has 47 Irish affiliated colleges, said he contacted the director of the school to ask the school to step aside until the matters had been dealt with.
“What has happened is regretful and we would wish that the young people who have been hurt by this episode to get back their lives and to live full lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, when asked about media reports that Ferry had links to other paedophiles operating in the Donegal area, a Garda spokesman said it was investigating an alleged sexual abuse case.
“I can confirm that we are investigating an alleged sexual assault in Donegal.
“We are not commenting further as it may identify the victim or compromise the investigation,” said the spokesman.