Patsy McGlinchey
In February 1996 RTE broadcast Louis Lentin's TV documentary "Dear Daughter", concerning allegations of physical and sexual anuse in Goldenbridge residential school which had been run by the Sisters of Mercy. Within a year of the broadcast - and an apology by the Sisters of Mercy - Ireland experienced a series of fake child abuse scandals. In the course of the year the following were accused:
Nora Wall (formerly Sister Dominic of the Sisters of Mercy) and Paul (Pablo) McCabe
Michael Fitzpatrick
Michael Feichin Hannon
Patsy McGlinchey
(These are of course only the allegations that were subsequently exposed as fraudulent.)
Patrick McGlinchey was teaching in a school for mentally handicapped children when one mother accused him of child abuse in March 1997. There was an immediate outbreak of hysteria and practically every male teacher in the school was accused. One pupil accused 17 teachers, another accused 31 and McGlinchey himself was accused by 45 pupils. His solicitor was also accused of child abuse and both were assaulted by "outraged" parents. Mr. McGlinchey was acquitted in November 2002 but still not allowed to teach. He successfully brought a case to the High Court in May 2009 which obliged the school's Board of Management to hold an investigation with a view to allowing him to resume teaching at the school. The inquiry commenced in December 2009 but quickly broke down and the case resumed in the High Court in April 2010.
38 people made CIVIL claims against Mr. McGlinchey. About half were dismissed in 2000, several more after his acquittal in 2002 and the final ones were struck out by the High Court in January 2010. During the entire period of his ordeal, Bishop Willlie Walsh who is patron of the school and a great suppporter of "victims" of child abuse has said nothing. Presumably Mr. McGlinchey does not qualify as a "victim" in the Bishop's eyes!
Top Garda Denies Threats To Staff In School Sex Probe - 19 November 2002
John Devane, Solicitor for McGlinchey also Accused - November 2002
Witch Hunt Trial Teacher Acquitted, The Sunday Tribune - 1st December 2002
Patsy McGlinchey, the Redress Board and Bishop Willie Walsh - February/March 2004
Suspension of Teacher Lifted - May 2009
Teacher Cleared of Sex Abuse Sobs As Suspension Ends - May 2009
Teacher cleared of sexually abusing pupils has 12-year suspension lifted - May 2009
Civil Charges Against Teacher Struck Out - Jan 2010
Teacher in Abuse Probe Gets €576,000 on Paid Leave - April 2010
Acquitted of Sexual Abuse 13 years Ago, Teacher Fights on to Return to the Classroom - 21 April 2010
Teacher Breaks Down in Tears at Court Hearing to Avert Suspension, Irish Times - 21 April 2010
Teacher 'Walked Out' of Inquiry, Irish Times (News in Short) - 22 April 2010
Bishop Wille Walsh and Patsy McGlinchey (Paul Malpas blog) - 14 June 2010
Contract Law May Deal With Challenge to Second Suspension , Irish Times- 22 July 2010
Teacher Fails to Stop Second Suspension, Irish Times - 28 October 2010
Teacher Gets €900,000 in Paid Leave as 14-year Case Drags On, Irish Independent - 28 February 2011