Posted by  |
| Good morning, Former Terenure College teacher Dennis Whitty died recently at 83 in a village in Kerry. He was under Garda investigation and due to face nine sample charges next month in relation to a former pupil who he allegedly abused. Whitty was my former teacher, just as John McClean, the convicted serial paedophile, was. I have an article about both men today, but one of the most striking things about them both is how long they continued to teach in Terenure College unchecked. In researching the piece, a past pupil sent me an article written by McClean in 1978 where he reflects on his happy memories growing up as a pupil of Terenure College. The following year McClean was seen by older pupils abusing children for the first time as he prepared them to appear in a school play. The fact McClean was promoted to greater positions of power over children despite this is shocking. It goes to the heart of the culture in the school that allowed this to occur. McClean’s ability to avoid scrutiny can only have encouraged others to commit their own crimes. Elsewhere this weekend, John Horgan, a former Labour politician and the first Press Ombudsman in Ireland, reflects on the legacy of Noël Browne. “Browne’s courage and initiative in raiding the treasure chest provided by the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes funds for the construction of new TB hospitals across the country was a bold stroke,” Horgan reflects. Browne’s resolve helped turn the tide on a silent killer. In sport, Brett Ighoe analyses whether Andy Farrell can create an Irish team capable of finally winning a World Cup knockout game. He looks at the data underpinning who Farrell might select and concludes: “It’s one thing to curate a squad capable of success, but navigating the intense pressures of the tournament, with its unpredictable turns and twists, is a different beast altogether.” Hope you have a good weekend, |
| Tom Lyons |
Who Watches the Watchers? 