Patrick Sharkey, an 83-year-old former teacher at St Joseph’s High School in Coleraine, has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison in the Republic of Ireland after admitting 132 charges of historical child sexual abuse.

The offences took place between the 1970s and 1990s while Sharkey worked at the school. His victims were boys and teenagers at the time.

In 2023, Sharkey was jailed in Northern Ireland for three years and four months after pleading guilty to nine counts of indecent assault on three boys between 1988 and 1998.

The full extent of his offending is examined in a BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme titled Old Boys United, airing on Tuesday 30 June at 10.40pm on BBC One NI and on iPlayer. Five of his victims have waived their right to anonymity to take part in the programme, recounting years of grooming and abuse.

The men describe how the abuse led to shattered lives, alcoholism, and for some, early deaths. The documentary details how reports of Sharkey’s behaviour were initially overlooked, and how the survivors later came together to pursue justice. Incidents covered include abuse during canoeing and outdoor weekends in Donegal.