Former Newry school principal to stand trial on over 40 historic sexual abuse charges

By John Cassidy

A former school principal and Christian Brother is to stand trial in the New Year on over 40 historic sexual abuse charges, a court ruled today (Thursday).

Paul Dunleavy (82), with an address at the Christian Brothers Province Centre on Griffith Avenue in Dublin, is the former headmaster of the now closed St Colman's Abbey Primary School in Newry, Co Down.

He was not present in Belfast Crown Court today when Judge Geoffrey Miller QC fixed the trial date for March 4, 2019.

The judge added that the trial was expected to last four weeks.

In June this year, Dunleavy appeared at an arraignment hearing at Belfast Crown Court where he was charged with a total of 41 offences.

He pleaded not guilty to 30 counts of indecently assaulting a male, eight counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, two counts of inciting gross indecency with a child and one charge of attempted buggery of a boy under 16.

The charges, which relate to nine complainants, cover a period spanning from 1969 to 1974.

The court heard that one of the complainants is now deceased.

At today's hearing, defence barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman told the judge that she was still awaiting material from third party applications to be disclosed.

Ms Herdman said that one premise in Newry had already been examined but said she was still awaiting police approval to examine a second building in the city.

Judge Miller ordered that all third party material to be disclosed by Friday, November 23.

"If the material is not disclosed by that date, then the addressee must attend court in person on Monday, November 26.''

The judge also ruled that if the PSNI did not respond by November 23 to a defence request to examine the second building in Newry, "an officer will be before this court on Monday, November 26''.