MICHAEL HURT FROM LIMERICK AND MURROE CAUTIONED OVER CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AT UK SCHOOL
| Red Rose Database
Limerick Murroe Sexual Abuser
In January 2012, a significant development emerged concerning Michael Hurt, a man with strong ties to both Limerick and Murroe, who was involved in a police caution related to allegations of child sexual abuse at a renowned Catholic boarding school in Britain. Hurt, known as Brother Anselm during his time as a Benedictine monk, currently resides at Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick under strict conditions following the investigation.
Brother Anselm, who is also the brother of internationally acclaimed actor John Hurt, has been prohibited from any contact with pupils at Glenstal Abbey. This restriction was imposed after the police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which reportedly involved minor offenses dating back to the late 1960s. The allegations are said to have occurred while he was teaching at Downside School near Bath in Somerset, England.
As part of the restrictions, Brother Anselm has been ordered to cease his participation in the school's chess club for boarders, and he is now living under a contract approved by both the Gardaí and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The 79-year-old, now retired, is permitted to reside at the abbey but under limited conditions, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing legal and safeguarding procedures.
The allegations against Brother Anselm were described as being of a minor nature, and he was given a police caution rather than facing formal charges. While a caution does not equate to a conviction, it signifies that he acknowledged the offense. The police spokesperson confirmed that two other individuals from Downside received cautions, including Brother Anselm, although their identities were not disclosed. The police emphasized that their investigation uncovered multiple offenses committed by various offenders, but there was no evidence suggesting a coordinated effort to target specific individuals.
Brother Anselm's departure from Downside School occurred in 1970, after which he became a layman. He later explained that his decision to leave the order was partly due to conflicts with the abbot and the school’s headmaster. Following his departure, he spent many years in Liverpool working in adult education before relocating to Ireland. In 1996, he decided to rejoin the monastic community and was accepted as a novice at Glenstal Abbey in Murroe.
Glenstal Abbey’s current headmaster, Brother Martin Browne, clarified that the monastery operates independently from Downside and was unaware of the allegations against Brother Anselm until February of the previous year. He emphasized that Brother Anselm had no teaching responsibilities at Glenstal and that his only contact with pupils was through participation in a chess club, which was immediately terminated once the allegations surfaced. The abbey authorities consulted with the Gardaí, HSE, and the National Board for Safeguarding Children, who confirmed the police caution received by Brother Anselm.
As a consequence of the caution, Brother Anselm was subjected to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offenders Act for a period of two years. During his time at Glenstal Abbey, he was responsible for the kitchens and later authored a cookery book inspired by requests from guests for his recipes. The book, which features humorous illustrations of monks at work and play, was published and gained popularity.
Adding a notable personal connection to the story, Brother Anselm’s younger brother, John Hurt, achieved international fame through his roles in films such as 'The Elephant Man,' 'Midnight Express,' and 'A Man For All Seasons.'
In related developments, the trial of Fr Richard White, a former teacher at Downside, revealed that he was allowed to continue teaching despite being caught abusing a child in 1987. White subsequently groomed and assaulted another pupil before being placed on restricted ministry. He was not arrested until last year and was sentenced to five years in prison for gross indecency and indecent assault. Following White’s conviction, the abbot of Downside, Fr Aidan Bellenger, issued an apology to former pupils for White’s actions, acknowledging the failures of the institution in safeguarding children.
Brother Anselm, who is also the brother of internationally acclaimed actor John Hurt, has been prohibited from any contact with pupils at Glenstal Abbey. This restriction was imposed after the police investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which reportedly involved minor offenses dating back to the late 1960s. The allegations are said to have occurred while he was teaching at Downside School near Bath in Somerset, England.
As part of the restrictions, Brother Anselm has been ordered to cease his participation in the school's chess club for boarders, and he is now living under a contract approved by both the Gardaí and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The 79-year-old, now retired, is permitted to reside at the abbey but under limited conditions, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing legal and safeguarding procedures.
The allegations against Brother Anselm were described as being of a minor nature, and he was given a police caution rather than facing formal charges. While a caution does not equate to a conviction, it signifies that he acknowledged the offense. The police spokesperson confirmed that two other individuals from Downside received cautions, including Brother Anselm, although their identities were not disclosed. The police emphasized that their investigation uncovered multiple offenses committed by various offenders, but there was no evidence suggesting a coordinated effort to target specific individuals.
Brother Anselm's departure from Downside School occurred in 1970, after which he became a layman. He later explained that his decision to leave the order was partly due to conflicts with the abbot and the school’s headmaster. Following his departure, he spent many years in Liverpool working in adult education before relocating to Ireland. In 1996, he decided to rejoin the monastic community and was accepted as a novice at Glenstal Abbey in Murroe.
Glenstal Abbey’s current headmaster, Brother Martin Browne, clarified that the monastery operates independently from Downside and was unaware of the allegations against Brother Anselm until February of the previous year. He emphasized that Brother Anselm had no teaching responsibilities at Glenstal and that his only contact with pupils was through participation in a chess club, which was immediately terminated once the allegations surfaced. The abbey authorities consulted with the Gardaí, HSE, and the National Board for Safeguarding Children, who confirmed the police caution received by Brother Anselm.
As a consequence of the caution, Brother Anselm was subjected to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offenders Act for a period of two years. During his time at Glenstal Abbey, he was responsible for the kitchens and later authored a cookery book inspired by requests from guests for his recipes. The book, which features humorous illustrations of monks at work and play, was published and gained popularity.
Adding a notable personal connection to the story, Brother Anselm’s younger brother, John Hurt, achieved international fame through his roles in films such as 'The Elephant Man,' 'Midnight Express,' and 'A Man For All Seasons.'
In related developments, the trial of Fr Richard White, a former teacher at Downside, revealed that he was allowed to continue teaching despite being caught abusing a child in 1987. White subsequently groomed and assaulted another pupil before being placed on restricted ministry. He was not arrested until last year and was sentenced to five years in prison for gross indecency and indecent assault. Following White’s conviction, the abbot of Downside, Fr Aidan Bellenger, issued an apology to former pupils for White’s actions, acknowledging the failures of the institution in safeguarding children.