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October 17, 2023
3 min read
Former Teacher Reveals His Struggle with Gambling amidst a Harrowing Past
54-year-old Irishman Patrick Bardon shared his troubling story, highlighting how his crimes led him into a downward spiral towards addiction
Bardon opened up about his painful journey, marked by a gambling addiction, that followed a horrifying incident of sexual assault against a teenager he befriended at his local pitch and putt club. This revelation coincides with the victim, now 46, choosing to waive his anonymity, emphasizing the intertwining challenges of addiction and abuse.
The Perpetrator Spoke of His Troubled Life
During Bardon’s trial, he took the stand and issued a heartfelt apology for his actions. He expressed disappointment in himself, regretting that the event ever took place. He described the survivor as a gentleman, lamenting he had to go through that harrowing experience. Bardon embraced this accountability wholeheartedly, expressing his readiness to engage in ongoing treatment, marking an important milestone on the path to recovery.
I cannot assess why it happened. It was not in my nature or personality. It never should have happened.
Patrick Bardon
During his trial, Patrick Bardon revealed the profound personal challenges he faced when the abuse came to light. At the time, he was living through severe personal tragedies like the passing of his father and younger sister. These events took a toll on his emotional and mental well-being, impairing his ability to cope with the allegations against him.
After these devastating personal losses, Patrick Bardon developed a debilitating gambling addiction, exacerbating his vulnerable position. The loss of his teaching job, a profession he viewed as a vocation, was a pivotal moment in his life. The subsequent period saw him withdrawing from society and living as a hermit.
Vulnerable Individuals Are Most Susceptible to Gambling Harm
Brandon faces a sentence of 10 years in prison and suspension in the final two years on strict conditions, including that he engages with the Probation Service for two years upon his ultimate release from prison and undergoes any sexual offender treatment program as recommended. These measures will hopefully allow Brandon to cope with his failings and addictions and become a better person.
The perpetrator’s descent into gambling addiction reflects Ireland’s rising problem gaming rates. Research by the Economic and Social Research Institute revealed that 1 in 30 adults in the country suffered from gambling harm. Such data is concerning, as problem gambling harms more than just the individual, potentially impacting their families and loved ones.
The case of Patrick Bardon reflects how the gambling industry can prey on vulnerable individuals, exacerbating their fragile condition and feeding other bad habits. The perpetrator’s story of abuse and loss should be a cautionary tale about the multifaceted nature of addiction and the need for a comprehensive approach to justice and recovery.
Deyan is an experienced writer, analyst, and seeker of forbidden lore. He has approximate knowledge about many things, which he is always willing to apply when researching and preparing his articles. With a degree in Copy-editing and Proofreading, Deyan is able to ensure that his work writing for Gambling News is always up to scratch.
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13 Comments
The perps dad died in 2015, by which time perp had lost his home and marriage to gambling. His sister died in 2021, two years after allegations came to light. Allegations he denied right up to sentencing. His little speech in Court was completely self-serving manipulative bs.
A bit of balance. He has been a gambler his entire life even during the time of the offences. He was never out of the bookies. His gambling addiction became worse and spiralled out of control once he was charged. While awaiting sentencing he couldn’t gamble and clearly now able to realise what he has done. He didn’t need to own up but did very publicly. Gambling is a mental disease.
He’s a rapist don’t see what gambling has to do with what he did yrs before to that man. I’m sure his new friends in prison will look after him deserves all he gets.
Well I taught alongside Pat Bardon in St Finians during the 90s. A fine fellow indeed, in my humble opinion, a bright and witty conversationalist, much loved and respected by his students of history and English. This dark episode would seem to me to be something of an aberration. The punishment meted out is extraordinarily severe….Just Ice (to quote Joni Mitchell) as opposed to “Justice”. I wonder what David Norris’ would think of this judgement. I remember when his former gay Lover’s seduction of a 15 year old boy in Israel was revealed during the presidential campaign, he ever so delicately explained the subtle difference between paedophilia and pedarasty, the latter being some class of consensual “encounter” often very beneficial (especially in ancient Greece) to a young man’s general development.
Well most of the dark clothed priests of St Finians as far as I know kept themselves firmly zipped in the face of such temptations, but this did not curtail, but rather “augmented” in a select few, an ever vociferous condemnation of the “sins of the flesh” in all the most lurid forms. Such indoctrination made the interpretation of any and all teenage sexual experiences (whether “alone” or with “others”) fraught with guilt, and in
the case of a few vulnerable and sensitive boys, an insurmountable baggage of misplaced shame and suppressed emotions.
How do you know the fella didn’t enjoy it at the time? 15 year old fellas don’t go to suck their teachers off over 2 years if they don’t enjoy it lol. Seems he wants a payout! Lottery win after 30 years!
Can’t you read? He said he had a gambling problem and that’s why it’s on a gambling site. He made a mistake and was sorry and then asked for forgiveness. Who are we to judge him anyway. Too many trolls about not interested in how gambling messes with people’s lives. My partner stole from his work and me and my kids to feed his addiction to gamble. It destroyed our life. But I forgave him because it’s a mental disorder.
It took courage for the person that was sexually abuse to come out image the torture , he must have suffered, we need a lot more to come and be believed. What happened never should have happened all the payout lottery could never compensate for that. Justice was done.
What torture are you on about? the boy willingly sucked off his teacher because he was going through his gay phase or something. 15 year old boys (I was one) know what they are doing. The teacher was in his early twenties at the time himself and admitted he made a mistake and is is jail now. In some places oral stuff without any hurt/pain wouldn’t even be called rape. This is not the same as little kids or incest or crap like that. If the motivation is now money then it’s all wrong. For all the genuine victims out there who are sexually tortured, this seems petty stuff. It took him 30 years to realise he didn’t enjoy it?? Give me a break. You must be his mum
Agree 100 percent with Delboys comment that it’s about money. Teacher was obviously stupid young and naive himself to get mixed up with a pupil. Why is there no mention of the victims name if he waived his anonymity?? Seems he was happy enough to get justice by having the teachers name plastered everywhere but not his own. I wouldn’t be surprised if its all a scam because there wasn’t any pain or violence mentioned anywhere.
I know the victim personally and believe me he was groomed and abused by a very clever perpetrator. How dare anyone think otherwise some of the comments above are disgusting.
Give it a rest, read the room. It’s all about the money and anyone who knows “him” and his “family” (like i do) knows it as well. Oh, he “bravely” went public but decided (conveniently) not to mention his own name, why’s that??? Something to hide perhaps….???
Don’t know anyone involved here but with all the stuff comin out bout rapists who use violence, this is minor imho. Sounds like the 15 year boy was sexualy experimenting. Most fellas experiment with being gay etc and let it go. Weird that he was tormented so badly over simple oral and says he would have been 17 ..agree with some other coments that it’s all bit suspect becos nobody would be making me suck unless I wanted to lol
What’s the victim’s name? Says he waived his anonymity, so why isn’t his name mentioned anywhere?Why did it take him 30 years to report he gave head to another bloke? – which in my book is minor and not the violent sort of stuff the priests were at.