Former Irish Circuit Court judge Gerard O’Brien has been sentenced to four years in prison for assaulting six boys and attempting to rape one of them.
O’Brien, 59, who previously worked as a secondary school teacher before becoming a solicitor and later a judge, was found guilty of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault.
Four of the six victims were students or former students of O’Brien at CBC Monkstown in south Dublin. The offenses occurred between 1991 and 1997 when the victims were aged between 17 and 24 years old. O’Brien, who was in his late twenties and early thirties at the time, was born with no arms and only one leg, likely due to his mother taking the drug thalidomide during pregnancy.
Despite denying all allegations, O’Brien was convicted by a jury last year.
The presiding judge noted that O’Brien had misused his disability to exploit his victims, engaging in predatory behavior and manipulating circumstances to facilitate the assaults.
During the sentencing hearing, victim impact statements were presented, revealing the profound psychological harm inflicted by O’Brien.
One victim described feeling manipulated by an egotistical and intelligent man seeking Sx thrills.
Another recounted suffering from chronic anxiety and a suicide attempt, attributing his mental health struggles to O’Brien’s actions.
Prosecuting counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor highlighted that O’Brien had developed inappropriate relationships with students, involving alcohol consumption and pub outings. The court heard about a culture of excessive alcohol use at the school during the time of the offenses, with one victim questioning whether the school could have done more to protect the boys.
O’Brien’s defense counsel, Michael O’Higgins, emphasized his client’s disabilities, describing the case as unusual and unique. He noted that O’Brien had achieved significant professional success but had now lost everything.
O’Brien, a former state solicitor for north Tipperary, became a Circuit Court judge in 2015 and resigned in January this year following his conviction.
Judge Alexander Owens delayed sentencing to consult with prison authorities regarding accommodations for O’Brien’s disabilities, as he requires assistance with dressing, undressing, and toileting. Some of the victims had previously helped him with these tasks.
O’Brien’s conviction marks a significant fall from grace for the former judge, now facing the consequences of his actions behind bars.
