Ronald Bennett

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, who was convicted of sexual assault against some of his pupils.

He joined the staff of the College in 1963 and his duties also included organising teams of altar boys. He 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 clothing, 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His faculties for hearing confession and celebrating mass publicly have been withdrawn.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 Dún Mhuire, Killiney, County Dublin. [ [http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2006/07_08/2006_07_05_IrishIndependent_PriestAdmits.htm "Priest Admits 1970s Abuse at Gormanston"] , "Irish Independent", 5 July 2006. (accessed 2008-07-07)]

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 him. [cite news | url = http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/0727/1153813803318.html | title = Management aware of abuse but did not remove priest | publisher = "The Irish Times" | date = 7 July 2006 (accessed 2008-07-07)]

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.Fact|date=May 2008

"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."Fact|date=May 2008

Dr Lanigan has set up a website to provide an independent forum for former students to discuss how abused past pupils might be supported.Fact|date=May 2008

Punishment

Bennett received 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. [cite news | url = http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=9&si=1660309&issue_id=14413 | title = Priest who abused boys gets suspended sentence | publisher = "Irish Independent" | date = 27 July 2006 (accessed 2008-07-07)] On 5 March 2008 The Court of Criminal Appeal increased the sentence to 2½ years imprisonment and 2½ years suspended. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0305/bennetr.html "Court increases priest's prison sentence"] , RTÉ News, 5 March 2007. (accessed 2008-07-07)]

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 about 600 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. [ [http://www.gormanstoncollege.ie/whoweare.html Who we are] , Gormanston College Website. (accessed 2008-07-06)]

References

See also

* Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
* Roman Catholic priests accused of sex offenses
* Ferns Report, on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns, Ireland
* Crimen sollicitationis
* Pontifical Secret
* Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film)
* Sex Crimes and the Vatican (Panorama Documentary Episode)
* Barbara Blaine founder of SNAP (Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests)

External links

* [http://www.gormanstoncollege.ie/ Gormanston College]
* [http://www.franciscans.ie/ Franciscan Province of Ireland]
* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0629/abuse.html/ RTE News, June 29 2006]
* [http://www.Gormanston.net/Alumni Duscussion Forum]
* [http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0305/bennetr.html RTE NEWS - Appeal, March 5 2007]