A former school principal has been sentenced to three years and fined £28,800 on charges of sexual and indecent assault. Sentencing Noel Conway who lives in West Clare, Judge Sean O'Laoire said it would be grotesque that he should continue to enjoy his state pension while in prison. The fine deprives Mr Conway of his monthly pension of £1,200 for the next two years.
70-year-old Noel Conway was principal in two schools in West Clare from 1956, until his forced retirement in 1995, when these allegations first became public. He pleaded guilty to 70 sample charges of indecent and sexual assault against 36 girls between September 1958 and July 1993. Eleven of his victims told their harrowing stories at Ennis Circuit court today. They said that the abuse was daily and regular. Victims described how Noel Conway would walk between the desks, walk up behind them, put his hand inside their clothes and touch various parts of their bodies. The girls were all aged between eight and eleven when they were abused.
All of them said it was embarrassing and humiliating, and that they lived in fear of the accused. They were wracked with guilt for years for never saying anything about it. They said that it destroyed their lives, they were depressed and withdrawn, had difficulty forming relationships and being affectionate with their husbands and partners, and the abuse had forced many of them to move far away from their homes and families. Mr Conway was described as a pillar of his community. The father of five, he was well known for playing golf and was a lay minister in the Church.
Imposing a three-year sentence Judge Sean O'Laoire said that he had to express the outrage of the community at the circumstances of this case. He recommended that the fine be put towards paying for counselling for the victims.
