Man to receive £170k in damages in priest sex abuse case
Settlement includes £170,000 in damages and a written apology from church leadership; no admission of liability.
A 57-year-old man who says a paedophile priest groomed and abused him at St Colman's College in Newry is set to receive £170,000 in damages in a High Court settlement. The man, who cannot be identified, was a pupil at the school between 1979 and 1985 and said he endured abuse under the guise of pastoral care.
The case concerns historic physical and sexual assaults attributed to the late Fr Malachy Finegan, who taught at the college and later served as its president. Finegan died in 2002, and in 2018 it emerged that the Diocese of Dromore had settled a previous claim brought by one of his alleged victims. Prosecutors never questioned or prosecuted him about the claims. CA, the claimant, described the abuse as taking place during a vulnerable period in his life when he needed support. "Malachy Finegan took a vulnerable boy at a vulnerable time in my life, groomed me and then abused me for his own pleasure," he said after the case settled.
The actions against the diocese and St Colman's College stem from allegations of abuse over the late 1970s and early 1980s; CA asserts a long campaign of abuse by Finegan. Finegan died in 2002, and the 2018 disclosure that the Diocese of Dromore had previously settled a claim by another alleged victim has been referenced in court records. The Board of Governors at St Colman's College condemned the physical, sexual and emotional abuse inflicted by Finegan, who taught and led the school.
The timeframe of the abuse is described as spanning the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, with CA alleging a long period of abuse by Finegan. The priest died in 2002 before any police inquiry was pursued.
Mr Justice Rooney told the court that the action would be stayed on agreed terms, including the plaintiff's legal costs. Solicitor Claire McKeegan of Phoenix Law, who represented CA, said: "The terms of the settlement include a payment of £170,000 in damages." She noted that the plaintiff would also receive a letter of apology from Archbishop Eamon Martin on behalf of the diocese. The settlement does not involve any admission of liability by either defendant.
In remarks outside court, CA described the life-long impact of the abuse: "I've suffered high levels of anxiety, nightmares and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and it almost cost me my marriage and family." He added that victims had been treated "appallingly" and that he remained with questions about why no action was taken to stop Finegan at the time. Four other legal actions related to the campaign of abuse were adjourned until later this week.
The case is part of a broader reckoning with historic abuse in institutions in Ireland, including the Catholic Church, and reflects ongoing public interest in how past allegations were handled. The parties have said the settlement terms disclosed publicly, including the damages figure and the apology, are part of a process intended to bring some measure of accountability to those affected and to help prevent future harm.
