Ronald Bennett

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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His faculties for hearing confession and celebrating mass publicly have been withdrawn.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 Cluain Mhurie, Killiney, County Dublin.

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.^[1]

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.^{[citation needed]}

"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."^{[citation needed]}

Dr Lanigan has set up a website to provide an independent forum for former students to discuss how abused past pupils might be supported.^{[citation needed]}

1 Punishment
2 Gormanston College
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Punishment

Bennett received a 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.^[2]

[edit] Gormanston College

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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 604 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.