'Abuse has left a mark on each victim'

Wednesday March 9th 2005

Christopher Cosgrove had a duty of care to the children he had abused, the investigating Garda told the sentencing hearing at Sligo Circuit Court on Monday.

Det. Garda Brennan said the abuse had left its own mark on each of the six victims. They hoped that with professional help they would find some closure.

Witness said that during interviews with Cosgrove, despite the overwhelming evidence against him he had denied at all times sexually abusing the boys.

"He has shown no remorse at all for the hurt and trauma of the abuse done to the victims who were aged between seven and 12 years at that time. He had a duty of care to those children," said Det. Garda Brennan.

Det. Garda Brennan told the court that a complaint against Brother Cosgrove had been received in October 1995 by a former pupil of St. John's School. An investigation got underway based at Sligo Garda Station and four former pupils were interviewed.

In January 1996 Cosgrove was interviewed and a file was subsequently sent to the D.P.P. and he directed later that there would be no prosecution.

The initial complainant was a witness in the present case against Cosgrove but he did not give evidence at the trial.

Two of the six victims were present in Court for the sentencing hearing on Monday.

VICTIM REPORT

One of the former pupils had a lot of psychological and psychiatric difficulties said Detective Garda Brennan who added that he had been unable to make contact with him in the past two weeks.

Det. Garda Brennan explained that each of the victims had been psychologically evaluated in October 2000 and these reports had been furnished to the defence.

The reports were complied as a result of judicial review proceedings taken by Cosgrove in the High Court in relation to the prosecution. The relief sought by Cosgrove was refused in December 2003 and the case proceeded.

Det. Garda Brennan said that each of the victims had also prepared a statement for inclusion in a Victim Impact Report.

Witness said that 200 witnesses were interviewed as part of the investigation and six to seven volumes were sent to the D.P.P. for directions.

Cosgrove was initially arrested on October 12th 1999 and taken to Carrick-on-Shannon Garda Station where he was interviewed in respect of allegations made by five of the victims.

He admitted taking pupils up on his knees and said he did so to reassure them. He also said he had followed some pupils to the toilets to see if they were smoking or if they were misbehaving. Cosgrove denied any wrongdoing.

In December 1999, Det. Garda Brennan said he travelled to England to interview the sixth victim. Cosgrove was interviewed again in March 2000.

suicide attempt

Witness said that the injured parties have had a lot of difficulties since the trial last January, particularly one of them who was not at the sentencing hearing.

"He has made another attempt on his life where he cut the veins in his arms," said Det. Garda Brennan.

Mr. Eanna Molloy S.C. (prosecuting) said the October 2000 assessment of this victim stated that he was the most distressed individual.

The victims, said Det. Garda Brennan, said that they didn't report the abuse at the time because of the position of authority which Cosgrove held as a teacher and as a member of a religious order.

As adults, the former pupils didn't know who to turn to. They also wished to point out that they were subjected to corporal punishment which was beyond reasonable chastisement even for that time.

They were in fear of Cosgrove, one even urinating, rather than have to leave the classroom to go to the toilet and suffer being abused.He said that Cosgrove had no previous convictions. He married in 1992 and lived in Claremorris. He had no children.

In reply to Mr. Roger Sweetman S.C. (defending), witness agreed that there was a regime of corporal punishment in place in schools at that time.

Witness said however that what was meted out to the boys went beyond what was acceptable chastisement.

Det. Garda Brennan said he would accept that Cosgrove was entitled to deny he had sexually abused the injured parties and indeed could have said nothing when the allegations were put to him by the Gardai.

With regard to his medical conditions, witness said he had seen Cosgrove on a number of occasions and was not aware of his having any health problems.

In reply to Mr. Molloy, witness agreed that a number of the victims had contrasted the regime under Brother Cosgrove to Brother Bonaventure's class, a teacher whom they had praised highly.

? Sligo Champion