Some victims of a former Donegal schoolteacher charged with 132 sex offences could not live with the abuse they suffered while others attempted suicide, a court has heard.
Patrick Sharkey, 83, with an address at a hostel in Northern Ireland is charged with offences ranging from indecent to sexual assault against 19 victims from 1970 until 1998.
Over the past two days at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court, State prosecutor Ms Fiona Crawford BL outlined the details of the alleged abuse against boys, aged from seven years of age upwards at locations in Donegal and Dublin.
Patrick Sharkey, who was employed at a school in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 1997, took many victims on water sport activities including cannoning and assaulted them while they rested, slept and travelled, the court heard.
One victim said they were working class kids invited on "a big adventure," days before package holidays. When they returned, "they were victims of a paedophile," he said.
The court heard victims suffered trauma, anxiety and depression as well alcohol, drugs, substance and gambling addictions in their adult lives as they struggled to cope.
One victim described Patrick Sharkey as a "horrible monster" who has left him "scared and mentally tortured".
"I attempted to commit suicide… I was a 12-year-old boy when this happened to me. This pain and fear will never leave me until I take my last breath," he said.
'Safety feels like a fantasy'
Another victim, who had "top grades" and planned to attend university left school early as the trauma and taunting was too much, as Sharkey's employment continued.
The victim said he battled anxiety, depression, alcohol addiction, suffered a marriage breakdown and often wonders who he could have been, if the abuse never happened.
"Every milestone I've missed, all traces back to what was done to me … safety feels like a fantasy… the damage is permanent," his victim impact statement said.
Another complainant told Sharkey in his victim impact statement: "you told all of us we had potential; for you, it was never about helping us to succeed. It was about gaining our trust so you could abuse us."
Many victims said they kept their stories hidden for decades, traumatised by what happened.
Patrick Sharkey was previously jailed for 12 months in Northern Ireland for indecently assaulting children in the 1980s and the 1990s.
Gardaí began an investigation following complaints of alleged abuse in the jurisdiction.
Patrick Sharkey was interviewed three times by gardaí in December 2024, February 2025 and May 2025. He came before the court on a signed plea.
The alleged abuse followed a similar pattern over three decades; many said that they were assaulted before they went to sleep and while they slept.
One victim alleged that he awoke to discomfort and pain in a private area, while others awoke to being assaulted.
Another victim outlined when Sharkey tried to assault him, he caught a shoe and hit him with it. Sharkey responded: "I thought you were gay and I was testing the waters."
One man told the court in his victim impact statement that Patrick Sharkey destroyed him as a person and that it will give him relief, knowing that he will be behind bars.
"He is a horrible monster that used influence of power as a teacher to groom me … this has been such a horrible road to get to this point …"
'I cannot ever figure out why it happened to me'
The man said the triggers in his adult life have been constant as he suffers recurring nightmares of the abuse from decades ago.
"I'm constantly reliving my attacks … waking up, screaming … as the monster in my dreams is abusing me.
"From my early teens until adulthood, I cannot ever figure out why it happened to me. Why did I let it happen? Why did I never fight back? The questions never leave you.
"The fear is the scariest thing I've ever had … It is like the world is frozen and my body had frozen with it.
"I attempted to commit suicide. I’m on antidepressant tables … I had a gambling addiction to try and block out what I was feeling…," he said.
The victim said while the pain will never leave, the support of counselling and his wife, has helped him navigate life.
"My wife has had to deal with my hurt and the self-destruction buttons that I was hitting … the counsellor tried to point out that it wasn't my fault.
"If I didn't have my wife in my life … I dread to think where I would be now. She is my rock. These feelings I will take to my grave," he said.
Another victim whose statement was read into court by gardaí said he was sexually abused by someone who was supposed to guide him as his teacher, not exploit him.
"Safety feels like a fantasy … the damage is permanent … I did not get life I was supposed to have … It was the theft of my childhood and the destruction of my future.
"I hope my voice is heard for every person who suffered in silence," he said.
Another victim said he wishes he could have spoken out when the abuse happened adding that he is grateful to those who spoke up, describing it as "their courage that helped us speak out".
Another victim said the stories outlined in court were "probably the tip of the iceberg".
"I don't believe in God because if there was a God, he wouldn't let it happen to that little child," he said.
Another victim thanked family, friends and gardaí adding there were "no words in the world to define" how Patrick Sharkey destroyed his childhood and his adult life.
The victim said he was grateful that his children never gave up on him, when he gave up on himself. He described Sharkey as a "predator" who befriended his family members.
"I want to thank you for staying alive long enough for this day to happen. My biggest fear is that you would die long before this day. Feel free to check out at any time," the victim concluded.
Another victim who addressed Patrick Sharkey directly at the conclusion of his victim impact statement said: "I hope you rot in hell. This, I hope is the end of it."
The court heard after Patrick Sharkey retired; he worked as a French guide for an Irish tourism company. He retired permanently to France in 2006/2007.
When he returned to UK in May 2021, he was arrested on foot of warrants extending to complainants from Northern Ireland. He served a sentence at Maghaberry Prison, having been jailed in Antrim Crown Court in 2023.
Sharkey was interviewed three times by gardaí between December 2024 and May 2025.
In mitigation, Sharkey's counsel referred to the signed pleas conveyed on date of last interview to gardaí and said he met gardaí by arrangement.
His counsel referred to his advanced age, health issues and said the prospect of dying in prison is real one for him.
Patrick Sharkey was remanded in custody. The case was adjourned for sentencing in June.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, please visit rte.ie/helplines.
