Br Paul Dunleavy sentenced to 10 years for sexual abuse of boys in Northern Ireland

Br Paul Dunleavy, 89, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 36 sexual abuse offenses against nine boys from 1964 to 1991. This follows previous sentences totaling 27 years for similar crimes involving 18 survivors. Brendan Dowling, who reported his abuse by Dunleavy in 1998, was not among the convicted survivors. Dowling's complaint predates the first public allegations against Dunleavy, which began in 2010. Dunleavy's offenses occurred at schools in Belfast, Newry, and Armagh. Dowling's experience highlights the long-term psychological impact of such abuse, which he described as introducing him to unhealthy relationships.