The life of former judge Gerard O'Brien was one lived in adversity, his defence counsel told the court.He was admired for the way he seemed to have overcome being born with no arms and only one leg, to become a teacher, a solicitor and finally a Circuit Court judge.
The even darker secret he was hiding, was his abuse of schoolboys who had admired him and the devastating effects his involvement with them had on their lives.Thalidomide, marketed for morning sickness in almost 50 countries under a variety of names, is believed to have affected thousands of babies worldwide.It was not removed from the Irish market until 1962.
Mr O’Higgins said he was determined not to let his"profound physical disabilities" stop him"having joy in daily life" and he learned to use his foot and his mouth. He quickly gained the respect of staff and students for his ability to overcome his very significant physical challenges. They all went back to O’Brien’s house where the boy ended up having sex with the choreographer while O’Brien was in the room.
Judge Owens said O’Brien had led this boy astray and put him in an adult situation beyond his experience.The assaults ended in 1997 when another boy who was staying overnight with O’Brien reported O’Brien’s actions to his mother, who told the then-principal. He told the documentary makers that"the bottom line" of where he would like to go was"to be married or in a permanent relationship".
He said O’Brien did not reflect on the harmful consequences of his actions on his victims but acted on impulse and was on the lookout for opportunities to pounce on them.
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