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ONE OF THE victims of Donegal school caretaker Michael Ferry has demanded answers over his horrific ordeal.
Mr Ferry was yesterday sentenced to 18 years for molesting and raping four boys between ten and 17 years old at Ard Scoil Mhuire in Derrybeg, Co Donegal between 1990 and 2005. Justice Paul Carney told the Central Criminal Court that the 55-year-old had remained working in the school despite being convicted of sexual assault in 2002.
Derek Mulligan, 24, yesterday waived his right to anonymity as one of Mr Ferry’s victims. He spoke out publicly today, asking: “Why was he still allowed to be in that school when they knew what he was capable of? Why did they not stop it? Is there more to the story than what’s there?”
In an emotional interview on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he urged other abuse victims to speak out. He said coming forward was “the best thing that ever happened to me. Because if you don’t talk about it, it’s in your own head. And it’ll take over.
I can’t take it any more. I want people to see that they’re not on they’re own. To make a stand. Because it can ruin one’s life. And I’ve been through everything, I don’t think it can hurt any more than what it’s already hurt.
Mr Mulligan also spoke about being groomed by Mr Ferry, who the court heard yesterday would give his victims alcohol and cigarettes and make them watch pornography. “I was just a kid kicking a football around,” Mr Mulligan said. “A vulnerable child, but thinking I was clever.
You don’t see him grooming you until it’s too late. You don’t see it coming. And then you question yourself – why did I let this happen to me? You become ashamed of yourself.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter today called on the school managers to explain Michael Ferry’s employment. “It is unacceptable that this individual having being reportedly convicted for child abuse of a student nine years earlier continued to be employed as a caretaker,” he said.
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A credit to these workers and their families who seemed to be doing most of the protesting,picketing and online campaigning themeslves ,very proud to be Irish because of them this week.
The important lesson here is that the people stood together, they stayed loyal to each other and their strength came from themselves. They did this for us, for employees that may be in a horrible situation like they have been in the past few months.
They have set a precident for all. It’s not what they received in money in the end, it was people power. I wish them well in their future and I hope it’s a good and positive one.
Hooray! And they should get double nay treble for the trouble they had to go to in order to achieve their rights.
Up the workers – up the workers – up the workers.
Its great that they got a result, well done to all involved and those that supported them all over the world through social networks….. People power is alive and kicking
Just a question? Why didn’t we get a list of the main customers of Vita Cortex customers so we could arrange a boycott unless it is sorted.
Get them where it hurts.
Credit to the VC32 and their families for standing strong through thick and thin for what was right not just for them but for every worker in the country.
Brilliant United bunch – now if we hold together in the Referendum – we too can teach Government and Europe a lesson in not taking the Irish Population for granted as being austerity mugs for the Bankers and inept Politicians !
Fair f?!?! To you all- got what u were entitled to- fair play
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