Northern Ireland

St Columb's College has 'no records' about departure of alleged abuser Raymond Gallagher

Terry Doran alleges he was abused while attending St Columb's College in Derry
Terry Doran alleges he was abused while attending St Columb's College in Derry Terry Doran alleges he was abused while attending St Columb's College in Derry

A prestigious Catholic grammar has said it has "no records" of the circumstances under which a former teacher accused of child abuse left his post.

Raymond Gallagher taught at St Columb's College in Derry for decades before suddenly quitting his job in the early 1990s.

Mystery continues to surround why Gallagher, who was also a former vice principal, left the high profile college

Gallagher, who is believed to have died in 2007, was a well-known music and Irish language teacher at the college.

Details of the allegations emerged after Derry native Terry Doran revealed that he received a £50,000 settlement after taking a case against the college and Gallagher.

In an interview with the Irish News Mr Doran also revealed that Mr Gallagher continued to teach at the college for years after he and his father made school authorities aware of his alleged activities in 1978.

Asked about the circumstances under which Mr Gallagher had left the school a spokesman last night said: " They are not in a position to comment because nobody at the school was around when that happened and there are not records of it."

The spokesman also confirmed that no other compensation linked to Gallagher has been paid.

It comes after a newspaper report from the 1990s, seen by the Irish News, suggested that a complaint had been made to the then college principal by parents regarding Gallagher's conduct towards their son.

The report also said that at the time neighbours believed he had gone abroad.

Mr Doran last night said he found "it hard to believe" when it was reported Gallagher had left the jurisdiction "why could there be no record".

"Why did he leave the college, he didn't just walk out," he said.

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin, who is also a former pupil at the Derry college, served as its president between 2000 - 2008.

He taught at the college from September 1990 and confirmed earlier this year that Gallagher was still on the teaching staff at the time "and remained there for a short while afterwards".

He revealed that he received allegations about Gallagher several years ago and that an "email was referred to our safeguarding officer and reported to the police."

Other high profile figures to have attended the school in the past include Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and John Hume.