The Directors of Coláiste Cholmcille in Gweedore, Co Donegal, have issued a statement following the conviction of child sex offender Michael Ferry.
Two days ago, the 55-year-old from Carrick Boyle, Gweedore, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin of molesting and raping four boys and sentenced to 18 years in prison with four years suspended.
The abuse happened at Ard Scoil Mhuire, in Derrybeg, between July 1990 and September 2005.
In a statement today, the directors of Coláiste Cholmcille expressed deep regret to the victims and took issue with comments made by Mr Justice Paul Carney during Ferry's trial.
It said it is 'factually incorrect' to say that Ferry continued in his role as caretaker to the building after his conviction for sexual assault in 2002.
'Following his arrest in 2001 and prior to his subsequent conviction he was dismissed from his post as caretaker. This dismissal took place at a formal meeting, attended by two directors of Coláiste Cholmcille.'
The statement says Ferry was required to surrender the keys to the building at the meeting, which he did. It also said he was never subsequently reemployed as caretaker to the building.
'Teaching staff at the college were informed of his dismissal and the reasons for same', it added.
The statement goes on to say that Ferry participated in 'effecting necessary repairs' over subsequent years, on occasion. It said this was done when the building was vacant and not in use and that Ferry was always in the company of other building workers.
'During this period also, he assisted on occasions, in the presence of college staff with some aspects of our adult courses, during which time no junior courses ever operated.'
The directors insist that Ferry was never unaccompanied and he was never provided with keys to the building.
'With the benefit of hindsight, in the light of the information now available we regret having allowed this,' it added.
The statement concludes by saying that 'routine intermittent security checks of the building during its long periods of unoccupancy did not reveal evidence of unauthorised use.
'However, information emerging from the recent court case states that Micheal Ferry continued to access the building subsequent to his dismissal as caretaker in 2001.'
The statement said the building was vacant nine months of the year and that 'apart from the above mentioned periods of authorized accompanied access, any other access of the building by Micheal Ferry was totally unauthorised.'
The National Federation of Irish Summer Colleges CONCOS said Colaiste Cholmcille is not a member of the organisation since this morning as it asked them to stand aside until everything is settled.
CONCOS said it is not making any statement until after it holds a meeting next week.
