Con Desmond, a 91-year-old former principal of De La Salle National School in Waterford city, has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for the sexual abuse of a child. The sentence, delivered at Waterford Circuit Court, includes a suspended final year. Desmond was convicted on nine counts of indecent assault committed between September 1978 and December 1980.
Judge O’Kelly cites egregious breach of trust
Judge Eugene O’Kelly described the abuse as a “brazen” and “egregious” breach of trust, noting that the offenses occurred during Desmond’s entire tenure as principal. The court heard that the abuse took place in the school office, where Desmond used a metre stick to beat the child while masturbating.
The Irish Examiner reports that the victim was forced to stand bent over a bin with trousers and underwear removed while Desmond ejaculated on his body. Desmond then wiped the fluid away with tissue. Judge O’Kelly identified the use of “the guise of physical chastisement” as an aggravating factor in the sentencing. The barrister for the defense asked Judge O’Kelly to “leave some light at the end of the tunnel” for his client, though he admitted “the end of that tunnel is not far away.”
Did You Know? Con Desmond, who served as principal of St. Stephen’s Primary School between 1977 and 1984, was later ordained as a priest in 1989 and served the Diocese of Killaloe in Co. Clare. During his time at St Stephen’s De La Salle National School, he was known as Brother Cornelius and lived at Woodlands, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare.
Victim describes lifelong psychological impact
The victim, who retains anonymity, told the court he lost respect for all authority, which led him down “paths in life with only darkness in the end.” He testified to using drugs and alcohol to numb the psychological pain of the abuse. He told Niall Storan BL that the abuse “has ruined a lot of things” in his life and was “just something I have to get past.”
According to waterford-news.ie, the victim described the environment at the school as a “game of cat and mouse,” stating that Desmond would purposefully single him out and hold him back from assembly lines to bring him to the office. The victim recalled having “butterflies” and hating school, though he continued to attend. The abuse ended in late 1980 after the victim fought back and called Desmond a “child molester.”
The victim told the court he felt “turned up inside” when his grandchild began First Class, the same grade he was in when the abuse started.
Desmond holds history of prior convictions
Detective Garda Finbarr O’Sullivan informed the court that Desmond has a history of similar offenses within school settings. In 2006, he received a three-year suspended sentence for indecent assault against a child aged 12-13 between 1984 and 1985, according to The Munster Express. Desmond had entered a guilty plea for that offense.
In 2013, Desmond was convicted of 13 counts of indecent assault against a child aged 8 to 12, committed between 1977 and 1982, resulting in a two-year sentence in Cork Prison. During a July 2024 attempt by detectives to question him in Ennis, Co. Clare, Desmond was described as “highly aggressive,” standing over an officer with clenched fists and shouting about “getting weapons.” O’Sullivan stated that Desmond was “uncooperative and aggressive” toward the officers.
Judge sentences Desmond to prison
Defense counsel Gareth Hayden urged the court to consider Desmond’s advanced age and frail health, describing him as a man “close to the end” with a “minimal” risk of re-offending. During the sentencing, Desmond muttered “no, no, no” and “that’s not true” from the defendant’s box. He had previously denied the allegations and called the victim a “source of trouble.”
Judge O’Kelly initially set a headline sentence of five years for each of the nine counts. This was reduced by nine months to a total of four years and three months, with the final year suspended for 12 months post-release.
Potential developments regarding ministry status
While it is confirmed that Desmond served the Diocese of Killaloe, it remains unclear when he was removed from the ministry.
Victim reports abuse to police
How did the victim eventually report the abuse?
During the Covid-19 lockdown, the victim experienced a memory surge he described as “like a dam breaking.” He confided in a former schoolmate who encouraged him to report the matter to An Garda Síochána. The friend told the court he remembered the victim having “big red eyes” outside the office and told him, “When you came out of that office, you would always be crying.” The victim responded that “Something happened to me sexually in that office.” He provided an official statement to Detective Seamus Halpin in June 2024.
What was the jury’s composition and deliberation time?
The trial was heard by a jury of six men and six women. They deliberated for approximately one hour and 40 minutes before returning unanimous guilty verdicts on all nine counts. Niall Storan BL and State Solicitor Frank Hutchinson represented the State.
Did Con Desmond testify during his trial?
No. According to waterford-news.ie, Desmond did not give testimony during the trial, exercising his right as a defendant under Irish law.
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