OLIVER O’GRADY: WATERFORD AND DUBLIN CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL REVEALS SHOCKING PAST

In a significant development in ongoing investigations, former priest Oliver O’Grady faced a court hearing in Waterford, where he was found guilty of possessing child sexual abuse images and videos. The trial, which spanned four weeks at Waterford Circuit Court, culminated on Tuesday, October 13, with the jury reaching a verdict after just over two hours. The court heard detailed evidence linking O’Grady to the possession of illicit material while residing at Otteran Place, South Parade, Waterford, a location he has since vacated.

The case centered around the discovery of a computer loaned to O’Grady by another tenant at the property. Over several months, he used this device for personal purposes, including Italian language lessons. During the trial, the defense acknowledged that O’Grady had searched for images of young boys in underwear on the computer, often simultaneously browsing Roman Catholic websites, such as those containing lyrics to hymns like 'O Holy Night' and the 'Magnificat.'

The court was shown a video of a semi-naked young girl, which was the primary subject of the child sexual abuse images charge. Other images accessed on the computer, including sexualized pictures of young boys in swimwear and underwear, were deemed lawful and not part of the charges. The jury was also presented with evidence from Conor O’Doherty, who testified that O’Grady’s computer activity was consistent with his use of a Yahoo email account and a Skype account linked to the same email address, both associated with his phone number. O’Doherty identified O’Grady as the main user of the device, responsible for searching for images of young boys and accessing Catholic-themed websites.

Extensive technical evidence was introduced, involving two computer forensic experts, four Garda officers, and five civilian witnesses. These witnesses included the landlord of Otteran Place, O’Grady’s Italian teacher, two former tenants, and the individual who initially loaned the computer and discovered the video. The investigation revealed that O’Grady had previously served time in the United States for possessing over 280,000 images of children in sexual poses, along with more than 1,000 child abuse videos. Gardaí also uncovered over six hours of videos and 500 pages of online discussions related to child abuse.

Historical context emerged as O’Grady was exposed as a serial rapist in the early 1990s in the United States, where he was imprisoned for 14 years after admitting to abusing two young brothers. He was deported to Ireland in 2000 after serving part of his sentence. O’Grady’s move to Ireland was facilitated by a recommendation from a religious family, and he settled in Waterford in February 2015. However, in January 2018, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan issued a warning to Waterford schools about O’Grady, labeling him an “extremely dangerous paedophile” actively seeking victims. Following the media coverage, O’Grady moved out of Otteran Place.

He is scheduled for sentencing on October 27. The case underscores a long history of criminal activity, including his earlier conviction in the United States and subsequent illegal possession of child abuse images in Ireland. His criminal record also includes a notorious incident in 2012 when he left a laptop containing explicit images on an Aer Lingus flight, leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Despite his age, O’Grady has attempted to maintain a low profile in Waterford, living anonymously in a city apartment since his release from prison last April. Neighbors remain unaware of his past crimes, and he has publicly denied any ongoing danger to children, dismissing questions about his history.

In interviews, O’Grady has shown no remorse, even participating in the documentary 'Deliver Us From Evil,' where he admitted to abusing children and claimed that Church authorities knew of his actions but protected him by transferring him between parishes. He also alleged that the Church in the U.S. was ordered to pay damages, initially $30 million, later reduced to $7 million on appeal. O’Grady confirmed that church officials were aware of allegations dating back to 1976 and that he was in regular contact with Garda authorities. His history includes a 1993 conviction in California for abusing two brothers, which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence, of which he served seven years before deportation.

His life has been marked by multiple relocations, including a stint in Rotterdam, where he volunteered at a Catholic parish under the alias ‘Brother Francis,’ before returning to Ireland in 2010. His return was marred by the accidental loss of his laptop on a flight, which later revealed a trove of illegal images and chat logs. The discovery of the laptop by airline staff and subsequent Garda investigation uncovered thousands of images, videos, and online discussions indicating a serious obsession with children. Devices containing illegal files were recovered from a storage unit in Tallaght, with O’Grady admitting ownership but refusing to comment further.

His criminal activities and attempts at denial highlight a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior and concealment. The court will determine his fate on October 27, as the community grapples with the revelations of his past and the ongoing threat he poses.