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BBCA person who mentioned he was once sexually abused as a kid by way of a clergyman has spoken of his reduction after the development the place one of the vital assaults came about was once taken down.
Sean Faloon mentioned he was once again and again abused by way of the overdue Fr Malachy Finegan in Clonduff parochial space in Hilltown, County Down.
The development, which changed into vacant in a while after the scandal emerged, were vandalised and set on hearth in recent times.
Mr Faloon advised BBC News NI he was once relieved that the “monument to a monster is no longer visible”.
“It was stomach-churning for a lot of the residents of Hilltown and the parish to see that building,” he mentioned.
“You could seen it for miles around. It was a daily reminder to them about what had happened in their community.
“It’s a relieving step for everybody.”
Finegan was the subject of sex assault accusations from several victims who were under his supervision as children when he worked as a parish priest in Clonduff and a headmaster in Newry.
He died in 2002 without being prosecuted or questioned by police about the allegations.
However, the Diocese of Dromore has since paid substantial damages to some of Finegan’s former pupils from Newry’s St Colman’s College.
The parochial house where he used to live on the Castlewellan Road in Hilltown has been vacant for years and was damaged in an arson attack in 2023.
Last December, the parish announced plans to raze the empty building and use the site as a car park for the adjacent Catholic primary school.
At the time, Mr Faloon said he found out about the plans through the media and criticised the parish authorities for not consulting him earlier.
However, he supported demolition in principle and at one stage suggested he could help knock it down it as that might assist him face his “demons from the previous”.
But he said his request could not be facilitated due to “modern-day development rules”.
The structure had to be gradually dismantled rather than demolished, with many of its materials preserved for recycling.
“I perceive and I settle for that,” Mr Faloon said.
‘Setting 13-year-old Sean free’
Instead, days before the work began, he was allowed into the building for a final time in a visit facilitated by the current parish priest, Fr Charles Byrne.
He spent almost an hour walking around the parochial house, reflecting on the trauma of his childhood abuse.
“At the doorway door on the again it felt awkward as a result of I may listen the doorways remaining and that’s the reason the place the abuse started,” he mentioned.
“In the lounge it felt chilly as a result of I may see 13-year-old Sean sitting at the settee.
“The expression on his face said: ‘Get me out of here’.”
He defined some sections of the development had been harder to revisit than others, however total the revel in was once cathartic.
“I have succeeded in setting 13-year-old Sean free,” he mentioned.
The Hilltown local, who now lives in Scotland, up to now have shyed away from visiting his homeland in sunlight as a result of seeing the development introduced again painful reminiscences.
“I look forward to my next visit home to Ireland without that monument to a monster disturbing my view and disturbing my thoughts for the day.”
‘A brand new bankruptcy’
Fr Byrne advised BBC News NI the parish sought after to assist Mr Faloon and he was hoping eliminating the home would convey some “peace and healing into Sean’s life”.
“It will be good when he comes back that the building will be gone,” the priest mentioned.
“It won’t bring full healing, but hopefully it will help.”
Fr Byrne additionally expressed a want that the undertaking would bring in a “new chapter” for the realm and make stronger highway protection within the neighborhood of the varsity.
The parish web site says the cleared web page will “become part of the school grounds for the good of the children”.
The web site, which accommodates detailed plans, provides: “We propose to build a new hall and meeting room which will be for the benefit of our parish community.”
Mr Faloon, who’s a former student of St Patrick’s Primary School, mentioned he was once taking a look to the long run and was once happy the varsity will employ the vacant web page.
He mentioned Clonduff parishioners have advised him his old skool “badly needs expansion” so he now hopes “they can take full advantage of this”.
There have additionally been some ideas {that a} plaque or memorial lawn may well be added to the web page in tribute to Finegan’s sufferers.
“If that was to happen I would be in favour of plaque,” Mr Faloon mentioned.
But he didn’t beef up the theory of a lawn because it “would need maintenance” and he can be involved in ongoing prices to the parish.
“Keep it simple,” he mentioned.
