Donal Collins

Who was Donal Collins?

Donal Collins was a priest of the Diocese of Ferns. He was appointed principal of St Peter's College, Wexford by Bishop Brendan Comiskey in 1988 despite his removal by Comiskey's predecessor, Bishop Donal J. Herlihy, following allegations of Collins sexually abusing pupils in his charge. The knowledge relating to the earlier allegations does not appear to have been made known to Comiskey.

Collins was a science teacher in St Peters when allegations against him of sexual abuse involving pupils in the school dormitory were made in 1966. He was transferred to a parish in Westminster but the Bishop of Ferns, Donal J. Herlihy did not disclose that allegations had been lodged against Collins, an omission described by The Ferns Inquiry as warranting very serious criticism. Collins returned to St Peters in 1968 and was allowed to fully take up all duties associated with a teacher in a boarding school including mentoring pupils for the Young Scientists' Exhibition, facilitating school trips to the public swimming pool in Ferrybank, Wexford, and accompanying pupils on annual school tours abroad. His nickname among the students was "Slinker".