A former Brother of Charity has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing three intellectually disabled men.
William J O'Connell, 65, from Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, committed the offences between 1971 and 1976 at a Brothers Of Charity residential unit on the outskirts of Waterford city.
He pleaded guilty at Waterford Circuit Court to six counts of buggery involving two of the men and one of indecent assault involving a third victim.
The three were in their 20s at the time the offences occurred in Belmont Park in Ferrybank.
Two of the victims were in court today and statements from them were read out. Victim impact reports were also submitted to the judge.
The former Brother of Charity, who left the Order in 1981, apologised in court for what he had done.
Judge Michael O'Shea said O'Connell, who was a carer for the men at the time, took outrageous advantage of the young men who needed all the help in the world.
He added that O'Connell had abused his position of trust and because of the impact on the victims, a custodial sentence was necessary.
He sentenced him to three years in prison and his name will also be kept on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
