High Court grants judgment against 130 Christian Brothers in abuse case

A High Court judgment has been entered against 130 members of the Christian Brothers in a civil action brought by survivor Thomas O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan, of Ratoath, Co Meath, sued former Brother Jack Manning, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to indecent assault on him and three other pupils at CBS Westland Row in the early 1970s, and also sued the Minister for Education and provincial leader Edmund Garvey.

O’Callaghan’s solicitors asked Garvey to act as a nominee for the congregation, but he declined. Because the Christian Brothers operate as an unincorporated association, the court required a summons to be served on each individual member who was part of the order at the time of the alleged abuse.

Following a 2023 High Court order for Garvey to supply details of all living brothers from 1972‑73, 130 members were joined to the proceedings. At the Monday hearing, counsel Conor Duff, for O’Callaghan, noted none of the members had filed appearances, prompting a request for judgment by default.

Mr Justice Conor Dignam granted the judgment and directed that damages owed to O’Callaghan be assessed by the judge handling the substantive case.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Phil Evenden / Pexels.