Ronald Bennett (priest): Difference between revisions
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His faculties for hearing Confession and celebrating Mass publicly have been withdrawn. Bennett lives at Cluain Mhurie, [[Killiney]], County Dublin. |
His faculties for hearing Confession and celebrating Mass publicly have been withdrawn. Bennett lives at Cluain Mhurie, [[Killiney]], County Dublin. |
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==Franciscans Protected Bennett== |
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Bennett's behavious was common knowledge amongst students at Gormanston College in the 1970's. Complaints about him were first made in 1973 to a member of the management of the College but were concealed out of a sense of blind loyalty to him and utter contempt for the unfortunate complainant by those [[Franciscan]] priests in authority. |
Bennett's behavious was common knowledge amongst students at Gormanston College in the 1970's. Complaints about him were first made in 1973 to a member of the management of the College but were concealed out of a sense of blind loyalty to him and utter contempt for the unfortunate complainant by those [[Franciscan]] priests in authority. |
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Revision as of 05:03, 19 November 2006
Father Ronald Bennett OFM (born 1935) is a Franciscan friar and a former spiritual director, sports master and bursar of Gormanston College, Co Meath, Ireland. He joined the staff of the College in 1963 and his duties also included organising teams of altar boys.
Bennett pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 29 2006 to six sample charges of sexually abusing four pupils, three of whom were boarders, at the College on dates from 1974 to 1981.
The abuse began with Bennett touching them outside their clothes culminating with the abuse taking place in some cases with both parties totally naked. Some of the abuse took place in Bennett's office to which victims were summoned over the College tannoy system and direct access to which was controlled by a set of red and green lights outside his office door. Victims entered when the light turned from red to green.
His faculties for hearing Confession and celebrating Mass publicly have been withdrawn. Bennett lives at Cluain Mhurie, Killiney, County Dublin.
Franciscans Protected Bennett
Bennett's behavious was common knowledge amongst students at Gormanston College in the 1970's. Complaints about him were first made in 1973 to a member of the management of the College but were concealed out of a sense of blind loyalty to him and utter contempt for the unfortunate complainant by those Franciscan priests in authority.
School principal infomed of abuse in 1973
The Irish Times reported that the Franciscans in charge of Gormanston College during Bennett's tenure were made aware of abuse but did not remove[1]. Complaints were made against Bennett in 1973 to Fr Patrick SweeneyOFM, principal of the college by the parents of one of the boys he abused. The parents were given assurances that Bennett would no longer be allowed to be alone with boys, but he continued to be in a positon to abuse until 1981, eight years afterwards.
Franciscan provincial Fr Caoimhín Ó Laoide OFM said that at the time the feeling had been that there could be an internal solution to the problem.
"From this point looking back, there was misguided thinking that it could be dealt with internally," he said.
He acknowledged that if the assurances given to parents in 1973 had been adhered to, a lot of other boys would not have suffered. He said there were now robust procedures in place.
"We acknowledge the hurt caused and our concern is for the injured parties," he said. "There is a tremendous sense of sorrow."
He added that the religious order had an open-door policy and any former pupil could contact them at any time.
Views of Richard Lanigan, past pupil
Richard Lanigan, a past pupil of Gormanston College, said the priest's behaviour was common knowledge among the boys in the 1970s, although they were not aware of the extent of the abuse.
"Some of the priests were lovely men, dedicated to their students," he said, "but this went on and adults who should have known better didn't want to go there. The neglect of these children by the other priests is every bit as bad as what Bennett did to them."
Dr Lanigan has set up a website to provide an independent forum for former students to discuss how abused past pupils might be supported.
Punishment
Bennett received a a five-year suspended sentence on July 26 2006 and entered into a bond of €1,000 to keep the peace for five years and undertake to abide by the Franciscan code of practice[2].
Gormanston College
Gormanston College is a fee-paying Catholic secondary school under the trusteeship of the Franciscan Province of Ireland. The College is located approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) north of Dublin.
The student cohort numbers 604 and has a strong international flavour. There is a mix of boarding and day boarding (day boarding is co-educational).
The College ethos strives to be fair and firm in an atmosphere where students are directed towards the values of mutual respect, social awareness and reverence for Gospel values.
The College motto is Dei Gloriae, Hiberniae Honori - To the glory of God and the honour of Ireland.
References
- ^ "Management aware of abuse but did not remove priest". The Irish Times. 2006-08-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Priest who abused boys gets suspended sentence". Irish Independent. 2006-07-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
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