Christian Brothers Laois land dealings in Portlaoise exposed as former child-abusing principal named

The sale of a prime Laois land in the heart of Portlaoise by the Christian Brothers has been put under the microscope in a new RTÉ documentary, which revealed that a convicted child sex offender who was principal of the Laois school was also central to how the religious order runs its property dealings.

The programme examined how the Christian Brothers have sold and parcelled off millions of euro worth of property around the State while victims of child sexual abuse and the State have struggled to be compensated for the damage individual brothers have done to children, which was covered up by the Order for decades.

RTÉ investigates found that the sale of former school land in Laois contributed €30 million to a second redress scheme deal to compensate victims agreed to by the Order. 

Former senator and Leinster Express editor John Whelan told RTÉ the Christian Brothers had originally committed to handing over the Portlaoise site as part of the redress scheme to make recompense for the cost to the state of the abuse.

"The Brothers backed out of that deal and reneged on their promise," he said.

RTÉ reported that the Brothers offered cash instead, but Laois County Council needed the land at Towerhill adjoining Portlaoise Train Station for housing and a public car park that could be used by commuters.

"They had, in vain, tried to purchase the property from the Christian Brothers," said Mr Whelan.

Instead, the programme reported that the Order sold to a private developer. This left the council having to purchase the land for the car park from the developer.

RTÉ reported that the cost of purchase and construction of the car park amounted to €1.35 million. The State spent a further €5.5 million under a capital leaseback arrangement for social housing on the site. MORE BELOW THIS PICTURE.

Building work on the Portlaoise CBS lands after it was sold to private developers.

That left two buildings still in the ownership of the Brothers - the former Georgian residence and the original school buildings. It emerged that the residence was sold privately for an apartment development, which has yet to commence.

The school, meanwhile, has been rented for adult and secondary school education and to LOETB at a cost of over €800,000.

It was also highlighted that it has been nearly 30 years since the last Christian Brother taught in Portlaoise and approaching two decades since the CBS relocated to the Borris Road. Nevertheless, the Order has retained its presence at the new school that was funded by the State on the Borris Road. It is still called St Mary's CBS.

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Another revelation to emerge was the activities of a former principal of Portlaoise CBS. Br Martin O’Flaherty was jailed for historical child sexual abuse in six successive trials over the last three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The latest, last month, when he was sentenced to five years on 15 counts of indecent assault on seven boys at Kilkenny CBS Primary School between 1976 and 1981.

He was principal at Portlaoise from 1985 to 1091. He was also a senior member of the Christian Brothers’ leadership for Ireland, England and Europe in the 12 years from 2002 to 2014.

The Christian Brothers were contacted by the Leinster Express / Laois Live for comment.

The programme can be viewed on the RTÉ Player.