CARL O’BRIEN
FR TONY Walsh was best-known for his Elvis act as part of the All-Priests Show, a groin-thrusting, hip-shaking performance. It was good-humoured, light entertainment in the parish halls of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
But for three boys, whose childhoods were destroyed over three decades ago, it had the most horrible connotations.
Yesterday, former priest Tony Walsh (57) was jailed for 16 years for abusing three young altar boys in Ballyfermot, Dublin. One of the boys was repeatedly raped over several years between the age of seven and 12; and he indecently assaulted the two other boys.
Sentencing him yesterday, Judge Frank O’Donnell labelled Walsh a “serial offender” who had inflicted a “life sentence” on one of his victims.
“It is difficult to imagine more reprehensible circumstances than a priest in confession setting about the sexual abuse of a young boy,” the judge said. “This is a gross breach of trust, and that’s putting it mildly.”
The abuse of one of the boys, “David” (not his real name), involved Walsh tying him up with the cords from his vestments before raping him. When the boy started to cry in pain, the priest turned up an Elvis record to drown out the noise. Later, he told the boy he would “burn in hell for all eternity” if he told anyone.
Through their dignified victim impact statements, the three men yesterday revealed how the abuse has scarred them and continues to damage their lives.
“Following the abuse, I turned to drink and drugs to numb the pain,” David said. “My trust was gone towards people . . . When I was around 16, I attempted suicide. It was the first of numerous attempts.”
Another victim, “Noel”, told how his parents refused to believe him when he disclosed he was being abused. Their response devastated him. “My mother said: ‘How could you say that about a man of the cloth, a man of God?’ My father gave me a hiding which started in the kitchen and finished in the bedroom.”
The third victim, “Tim”, said the abuse has left him distrustful of men and he freezes under pressure; he cannot rid himself of the memories.
“I remember lying face-down, while Mr Walsh lay on top of me, making gyrating movements . . . I remember thinking, ‘When will this be over, when can I leave?’”
Following the sentencing, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said he hoped the finality of the legal process would help bring them some sense of justice, healing, closure and hope for the future. “I can only unreservedly apologise to the victims of this man for what they endured and for the way in which the diocese failed them.”
For victims like David, the legacy of abuse feels like a life sentence. Still troubled, he admitted himself into a psychiatric hospital last night.
“I have been diagnosed as suffering from severe bouts of psychotic depression…” he said. “Because of all this, I will be on medication for the rest of my life.”
I just want to cry and scream at Ireland. What sort of country are we?. What sort of people are we?. How low are we to sink before we are buried in self disgust?. Yes Redmond the republic has failed , In just about every area. Particuarly in child protection. We have as a people served our masters well and see what we reap?. What exactly are we to celebrate at easter in 2016?, Just name ONE thing we should celebrate?.
Opinion of a survivor.
It keeps coming back to me again and again, Karls Marxs comments, as I lie in hospital powerless from the waist down perhaps from injuries sustained 40 years ago at the hands of the countries richest religious order.
Karl Marx’s proposed …………”the purpose of Government is to serve the ruling class”.
It is clear now, crystal clear that the Irish Government and spectacularly Fianna Fail, betrayed ‘the abused’ with their cosy church secret deal, then the Irish people with the cosy, secretive deal with IMF-EMF. Its all just window dressing.
The republic of Ireland has failed, the most vulnerable and poor have been exploited to serve the religious, the Irish and Euro bankers and the corrupt political elite just as Karl Marx postulated. The British hiererchy were replaced by self serving small men, institutions and an unregulated civil service. The democratic principles never got off the ground, the assassination of Michael Collins and the replacement of democratic ideals with religious fundamentalism is at the root of this combined and assisted by gombeen men who know no form of self dicipline, leadership of civil qualities. It is the classic failure of a republic. As they say in Rome, Civilisation was built on the bones of the innocent or in other words that is how institutional wealth and power have been built on the bones of the innocent.
What we have had is the inverse of a democratic republic, the people serve the Govt who in turn play the bankers and religious tune. Taxes flow up and rule making is substantially in the favour of the major institutions. Power does not rest with the people. The status quo of enquiry management is to white wash while stage managing the visible end of government interest in the face of the people.
A new republic is needed, some people say there is a new movement emerging within the first generation foreign irish who wish to enter politics and form a new political party.
And all the time, we see dreadful case after case appearing in the papers, in which the abuse have had to wait a life time to obtain legal justice against all the odd. Ther is no disguising the rotten cartel of the big institutions and cosy government.
Lets see what can happen, its going to be an interesting winter.
A revolution I hope, as does every sane person in the state. Its time to go, vile old statism, you acted with the totalitarian touch that now places you along side the evil of the evils.
Be gone.
paddy i was listening to pat kenny yesterday talking about tony walshe i cried listening to the abused oh dear what sort of people are we dealing with here walshe should have been sent down for the rest of his life it was very harowing listening to it god help the THOSE POOR BOYS i dont know what to think anymore im very distressed over the whole matter
Quote Archibishop Diarmuid Martin:-
“I can only unreservedly apologise to the victims of this man for what they endured and for the way in which the diocese failed them.”
Fact is, its the parents of the these children who are responsible for their offspring – not the fcuking Catholic Church, nor any other arrogant egocentric predator who believes he or she is Primary Guardian of children! Talk about the Mad Irish….
Terrible.
Thank goodness, justice is seen, to be done.