A FORMER school principal and leading figure in Fermanagh GAA allegedly abused several young girls almost 50 years ago.
Four women told the Impartial Reporter newspaper they were sexually abused by John McElholm, a former principal of St Paul's Primary School in Irvinestown, in the 1970s.
McElhom, who died in 1995 at the age of 82, was a former chairman of the Fermanagh GAA county board.
The alleged victims said they believe other adults were aware of the abuse.
The four women approached the newspaper separately to tell of the abuse. A fifth person, a man, said he saw the alleged abuse but his parents stopped him from reporting it because McElholm was "treated as a God".
One of the women said her abuse ordeal began in 1973 following the death of a close relative. She said McElholm would call her into his office at the school and touch her inappropriately.
She claimed she and five other members of the school camogie team were physically assaulted in his office.
Another woman said the abuse began when she was in P4 and continued over the next four years.
"I can also remember recoiling from his touch and I think this irritated him as often the abuse would end with a caning," she said.
A third woman said the abuse began when she was eight years old. She said she was assaulted in his office and in a pool at the Lakeland Forum while he was teaching her how to swim.
Mr McElholm first began teaching in 1938. He joined St Paul's Primary School in 1966 and stayed there until his retirement in 1978.
He was heavily involved in different groups, including St Vincent de Paul, and held several roles within Fermanagh GAA.
He was also a former chairman of the Northern Committee of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
Mark McTaggart, INTO assistant northern secretary, said the union had no knowledge of any reports of abuse.
"We would add our sympathies to the women who were abused,” he said.
"If this had come to light today about a member of INTO we would have to expel them from the organisation."
Fermanagh GAA said it had not received any allegations about McElholm.
"Coiste Chontae Fear Manach CLG confirm that we are aware through media articles of the serious allegations of a historical child safeguarding nature against former chairperson and primary school principal, John McElholm," a spokesman said.
"We can confirm that the Association has not received any allegations relating to his roles in the GAA, and we encourage anyone who has any concerns to report them to the relevant statutory authorities.
"Given that the enquiries by statutory authorities are ongoing it would be inappropriate for Coiste Chontae Fear Manach to comment further on these matters."
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), which was set up in 1989, said it has no information or records from the period when the alleged abuse happened.
A spokesman for Clogher Diocese said it "was never made aware of any allegations against the principal of St Paul's Primary School, Mr McElholm, at any time".
He urged anyone with concerns about the welfare or safety of children to contact the PSNI.
Police said they "cannot comment on the detail of specific cases" but said detectives treat any child sex abuse allegation seriously, regardless of when it happened.
