A man who was sexually abused as a child by a Christian Brother at the Belfast school he attended has been praised for his courage in pursuing the case.
The abuse victim, who is now 55, attended a hearing at Belfast Crown Court where his abuser was sentenced for the historic sexual offences.
Earlier this year a trial 'to determine the facts' was held at Belfast Crown Court regarding allegations of abuse made against former Christian Brother Timothy Monaghan.
Now 91 and residing at St Patrick's Nursing Home on Dublin Street in Dublin, Monaghan was deemed unfit to attend the trial, which was held in his absence.
The jury of seven women and five men heard evidence from the victim, who alleged that when he was aged around 11 he was sexually abused by 'Brother Monaghan' whilst a pupil at the Christian Brothers secondary school on the Glen Road.
In his evidence, the complainant told the court that he didn't speak about what happened to him between September 1979 and July 1980 for decades - but that he contacted the PSNI in August 2018 to make an official complainant.
The Belfast man recalled two occasions when Monaghan called him to the front of the class to read aloud from a book.
He said Monaghan ordered the other boys to keep their heads down and follow the book then abused him as he stood reading the book at the teacher's desk.
The jury also heard that when the allegations were made, police spoke to Monaghan who admitted teaching at the school at the relevant time - but denied abusing the pupil.
At the conclusion of the trial in January, the jury determined that Monaghan 'did the act' on two counts of indecent assault.
Sentencing was adjourned until Tuesday, when Judge Patricia Smyth imposed the only suitable disposal available to her in the circumstances - an absolute discharge.
As she addressed the victim on a videolink, Judge Smyth explained that as other alternative disposals such as a Hospital Order and a Guardianship Order were not suitable, she was "left with no option" but to impose an absolute discharge.
Speaking directly to the victim, the Judge told him the trial held in January wasn't a "normal trial with the full range of penalties including imprisonment ... because Mr Monaghan now has dementia".
Acknowledging the impact Monaghan's behaviour has had on him, Judge Smyth continued: "The most important part of this process is you and it's because of what happened to you that we are here.
"I have read very, very carefully the details Victim Impact Statement that you have written and it's a tragedy in every sense because, as you have explained every aspect of your life has been dominated by this for 40 years."
Judge Smyth spoke of the burden borne by the victim who she said "suffered in silence" for years but who was vindicated by the jury's decision after he pursued the case.
She concluded addressing the victim when she told him: "I praise your courage, I pay tribute to you and I sincerely hope that the next part of your life can be different."
The Belfast Recorder also revealed that due to an "episode of sexualized behaviour" towards another resident in the nursing home where Monaghan now resides, he is "not permitted to be close to other residents or visitors" in the communal areas as a safety precaution.