Former Christian Brother accused of abusing nine former pupils

Opening the prosecution case at Belfast Crown Court, Neil Connor KC said Mr Dunleavy taught at schools across Northern Ireland from 1955 until his retirement in 1998 while a member of the Order of Christian Brothers.

He told the jury of six men and six women that Mr Dunleavy was a teacher at Armagh Christian Brothers Primary School between 1960 and 1966.

He later moved to the Abbey Christian Brothers Primary School in Newry from 1966 to 1973 before returning to the school in 1987 as headmaster until his retirement in 1998.

Mr Dunleavy also taught at St Aiden’s Christian Brothers Primary School off the Whiterock Road in west Belfast between 1973 and 1977, later becoming its headmaster between 1980 and 1985.

He was also headmaster at Gortnamona Secondary School in west Belfast between 1985 and 1987.

“Put simply, the prosecution case is that he sexually abused a number of pupils at those four schools who were entrusted into his care,” the barrister said.

“You will also hear, members of the jury, that the defendant is also a convicted child sexual abuser.

“You will hear that he was convicted on two separate occasions of a series of sexual offences against children in his care at a number of schools where he taught.”