Former school rugby coach admits abusing two boys

Former school rugby coach admits abusing two boys

A retired school teacher and rugby coach has admitted sexually abusing two boys at a south Dublin school over 40 years ago.

John McClean, of Casimir Avenue, Harold’s Cross in Dublin pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning to two counts of indecently assaulting each boy.

The offences took place between September 1981 and June 1987.

The 76-year-old was remanded in custody for sentencing next month.

Another 45 outstanding charges in connection with the alleged abuse of 20 other victims are also expected to be dealt with then.

McLean taught English at Terenure College in Dublin and also coached rugby at the secondary school before going on to become the director of rugby at UCD in the 1990s.

He was arrested last August by detectives from Terenure and charged with 49 counts of indecently assaulting 22 boys at the college in the 1970s and 1980s.

McClean was sent forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and he admitted indecently assaulting two of those boys on two separate occasions.

One victim was abused over a six-year period between September 1981 and June 1987, the other during the two years between September 1981 and June 1983.

The abuse took place in Terenure College.

McClean today affirmed his guilt in four signed pleas from the district court.

The court was also told that McClean is expected to be arraigned on the next date on the outstanding 45 charges in relation to the other 20 victims and that sentencing in the case may take up to two days.

There are 22 victim impact statements.

Judge Martin Nolan remanded McClean in custody to appear again at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing on 23 February.