Former rugby coach John McClean, who is serving a prison sentence for the abuse of 45 boys, has been convicted of abusing another four teenagers. The former teacher at Terenure College is currently serving a global sentence of 10 and a half years for his offending against 45 boys, all of whom were students at the Dublin secondary school. McClean (80), formerly of Casimir Avenue, Harold's Cross, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to seven counts of indecently assaulting four boys between 1973 and 1990 at Terenure College. These men wish to retain their anonymity but are happy for McClean to be named. Detective Sergeant Charlie Dempsey told Paul Murray SC, prosecuting, that these four complainants contacted gardaí following press coverage of McClean's other convictions. McClean taught at the Dublin school between 1966 and 1996, becoming first-year form master in 1980. He was also a rugby coach and had the nickname of 'Doc' because students would often go to him if they had an injury. Previous sentences He was handed an 11-year sentence with the final three years suspended in 2021 for the sexual abuse of 22 teenage boys. In 2023, McClean received a consecutive four-year sentence in relation to a further 23 complainants. This sentence was appealed to the Court of Appeal, which reduced it to two and a half years. This meant that McClean is serving an overall sentence of 10 and a half years in respect of his global offending against these 45 victims. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC submitted that the Court of Appeal's ruling outlined an assessment of a global sentence range to reflect his client's offending, taking into account the principles of totality and proportionality. He suggested a concurrent sentence could be imposed as punishment in relation to these four complainants, as McClean's offending in these cases falls within the spectrum of his other offending and occurred in the same period. On Wednesday, McClean was handed a two-year sentence, which will run consecutively to the 11-year sentence with the final three years suspended, which was imposed in 2021. This means that McClean, who appeared in court via video-link from Midlands Prison, will not spend any extra time in custody in respect of his offending against the four most recent complainants. One of the four men told gardaí he believed McClean preyed on him opportunistically. This victim said McClean abused his position, was a good teacher and coach, but also a “very nasty piece of work”. Another of the men read his victim impact statement to the court. He said he felt a sense of relief and that a “weight of shame” had been lifted from him. He said he had carried feelings of shame and anger towards himself for too long. He outlined the impact on his education, noting he was “robbed of self-worth by a representative of an institution that should have protected me”. He said he is beginning to feel at peace with the support of his family and can move on as “justice has been served”. Two further victim impact statements were handed into court but not read aloud. Det Sgt Dempsey agreed with Mr Guerin that this offending was on the same spectrum as McClean's previous offending and occurred around the same time. McClean has a number of health issues, including cancer and cardiac difficulties. Several medical reports, several references and other materials were handed into court. Mr Guerin said his client is apologetic and has accepted responsibility for his offending. Judge Martin Nolan said McClean was in a position of trust and “took advantage of his position to molest and sexually assault these particular pupils”. He said that McClean had pleaded guilty on previous occasions to other sexual offending and the Court of Appeal had indicated an appropriate sentencing range of eight-and-a-half to ten-and-a-half years for his “global misbehaviour” against all of the boys. He said the Court of Appeal “have said to this court, and any court in future, that we can’t go beyond that ten-and-a-half sentence”. He said the court was “constrained by that direction”, which it respected. The judge said the court was grateful to the four complainants for coming forward and commended the gardaí for their investigation. The first victim told gardaí he was a first-year student in the school in 1981, and McClean was his form master. He recalled being brought into McClean's office, where the teacher put his hands down the boy's trousers. He told gardaí that he shouldn't have been left alone with McClean, who he had no dealings with after this point. When McClean was interviewed about this, he said he had no recollection, adding that he had no idea why the complainant would make it up. The second injured party started in first year at Terenure College in 1990. He said McClean took him to his office a few weeks after he started at the school, telling him they were going to have a talk. McClean started to massage his leg during their conversation about rugby and his family, then the boy noticed the teacher's penis was erect. In another incident, again in his office, the teacher touched the boy's genital area while telling him, “everything is going to be alright”. McClean told the boy, “I'll be seeing you again”, afterwards. McClean took the boy from class on the final occasion under the guise of talking about rugby. They went to his office, where McClean again touched the boy's genital area outside his clothing before attempting to masturbate him. The boy stood up quickly, taking McClean by surprise, then left his office. When he made a complaint to gardaí, this injured party said he had buried the memories, but after hitting rock bottom, they resurfaced, and he told family members before making a formal complaint. McClean made no comment when gardaí put these allegations to him. The third boy started at the school in 1971 and was involved in sports. He suffered an injury, and McClean appeared and then started to touch the boy's genital area. The boy was in pain and confused. A week later, he was getting ready in the changing room when McClean appeared and touched him outside his shorts. The boy backed away and thought he would get into trouble as students were not supposed to walk away from teachers, but he did not get into trouble. In a later incident, the boy was in the detention room when McClean approached him then touched his penis. The boy came up with ways to stop these interactions after this incident, including wearing pyjamas under his trousers and avoiding the teacher. This man told gardaí that McClean's actions have had a life-long impact on him. He said he developed an addiction to alcohol but is now sober. He was afraid that he would become an abuser, and as he did not want that, he avoided certain activities. He said he avoided driving a babysitter home, never goes to a changing room with his grandchildren, and is now in counselling. The court heard he contacted the school for support when there was initial media coverage of McClean's offending, but didn't feel ready to make a complaint until later. The fourth victim started first year at the school in 1980 and McClean was his English teacher in second year. He injured himself during a rugby match and was told to see McClean to assess the injury. McClean organised to meet the teenager at the medical room in the gym. When they entered the medical room, McClean locked the door. McClean examined the boy, touching his genital area and cupping his private parts, telling the boy he was checking for a hernia. The boy felt mortified and vulnerable during the encounter. McClean abused the victim in a similar manner on other occasions when the boy went to see him about injuries sustained during sporting activities at the school. The victim told gardaí that he believed, in hindsight, that McClean's actions were predatory and for his own gratification. He also said he once went to see the school's physiotherapist and the differences between their approach and McClean's copper-fastened their belief that McClean's actions were for his own gratification. Another incident took place when this boy was in fourth year. McClean offered to help him improve his grades, but when they went to his office, the teacher told the boy he had to be punished as he had fallen down in several grades. He instructed the boy to remove his trousers and underwear, then pulled out some wooden rulers. The boy said he did not know this was going to happen, and McClean became angry, telling him he had agreed to this. After pleading with him, McClean agreed the boy could leave his trousers on. The boy was struck around 15 times by McClean. He told gardaí it felt uncomfortable and that he knew it was wrong. McClean turned to face him when he had finished and the boy noticed the teacher's penis was erect and he was panting from the physical exertion. In the final incident, the boy was in fifth year and was approached by McClean about injuries suffered in sports. He was again brought to the medical room in the gym, where McClean examined him and touched his genital area. The victim said this was the most protracted incident, lasting around 10 minutes. He told gardaí that, in hindsight, he felt he bottled it up and did not tell his parents. He said he had the opportunity to disclose what happened, but never did and does not want to talk about it even now. He said he believed McClean preyed on him opportunistically, and he is angry that McClean abused his position. This victim said McClean abused his position, was a good teacher and coach, but also a “very nasty piece of work”. When interviewed about the final three complainants, McClean made no comment. Mr Guerin outlined his client's personal circumstances. McClean is doing well in custody, is an enhanced prisoner and a literacy ambassador. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.