A man who claims he was sexually abused for eight years by a now deceased priest who was employed by St.Colman’s College in Newry for two decades, has spoken out about his ordeal.
Sean Faloon, from Hilltown, went public about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Fr Malachy Finnegan – who was employed in the Newry grammar school from 1967 to 1987, both as a teacher and as President of the College for more than 10 years – after news emerged last week that the diocese had settled a claim with one of 12 abuse victims who have come forward,
Speaking for the first time to BBC News NI, Mr Faloon claimed that Fr. Finnegan had abused him for eight years, starting when he was a 10 year old altar boy in 1989. He said memories and flashbacks of his abuse stopped him from returning to Northern Ireland, having moved away to to escape his traumatic past. The 39 year old said he did not speak out as he was too frightened to disobey Finnegan, who warned him it would ruin the rest of his life.
At the age of 17 he revealed his ordeal to his GP who referred him to counselling. Mr Faloon’s family were informed and he made police aware of the alleged abuse, requesting that his claims be kept on record to support any further reports from Finnegan’s victims.
The Hilltown man also recalled raising the matter with the then Bishop of Dromore, Francis Brookes, who suggested he stay away from outside counselling and arranged for him to complete counselling sessions with a nun, who told him that, given time, God would forgive him.
Mr Faloon spoke out after St.Colman’s College published a statement on Wednesday last saying that its Board of Governors had settled a claim in relation to the sexual abuse of former pupils by Fr. Malachy Finnegan (deceased)
The statement “condemned in the strongest possible terms, the physical, sexual and emotional abuse” inflicted by Fr. Finnegan and the governors added that they were devastated that any pupil who was entrusted to the care of St. Colman’s College should ever have suffered abuse”.
The College said it removed the former school president’s image from photographs in October 2017 after a claim was settled by the diocese. The Dromore diocese said the first allegation against Fr Finnegan came to light in 1994, seven years after he left St Colman’s College, whilst a second allegation made in 1998 was not related to his tenure at St Colman’s. No further allegations emerged until after Fr Finnegan died in January 2002, having never been prosecuted for abuse.
The National Board for Safeguarding Children – the Catholic Church’s clerical abuse watchdog, also investigated allegations in 2011. It is understood that settlements have previously been reached with other victims, while some have yet to be concluded.
In the wake of the diocese statement, the Bishop of Dromore, Dr John McAreavey revealed that he had provided pastoral support to a victim whose allegation came to light in 1994. The Bishop also expressed his regret at officiating at the priest’s funeral in 2002, describing it as an “error of judgement.”
The story of Fr. Finnegan’s reign of abuse is set to be revealed by BBC Reporter, Mandy McAuley in a forthcoming BBC NI Spotlight programme.