A 71-year-old Franciscan priest has pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sample charges of indecent assault of young boys at Gormanston College, Co Meath, almost 30 years ago.
Father Ronald Bennett was a games master and spiritual advisor at the college when the offences took place.
Garda Sgt Margaret Murrell told the court that a man had complained to them of being sexually assaulted at Gormanston while he was a boarder there from 1974.
The court heard details of a series of other indecent assaults that Fr Bennett pleaded guilty to.
It also heard that the priest had apologised and expressed huge regret and that the injured parties had since received significant compensation.
Counsel for the defendant said he was now living under a strict regime and supervision at a house of study in Killiney in Dublin and was considered to be at a low risk of re-offending.
Judge Desmond Hogan is due to sentence Fr Bennett later this month.
