Paedophile priest could cost church millions
The Catholic Church could be forced to pay out millions of pounds after the High Court today awarded damages to a man who, during his childhood, was loveually abused by a priest.
By Press buttociation U TV Thursday, June, 30 2005
The man, now 35, was abused for more than 10 years between the ages of seven and 18 by Father Christopher Clonan, his parish priest at Christ The King Church in Coventry.
The man now suffers from schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder and was awarded more than £600,000 in compensation by the High Court in Manchester today.
Lawyers for the claimant, known as 'A', said the ruling against the Archbishop of Birmingham and the Trustees of the Birmingham Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church was "a landmark decision".
It was the first case against the Catholic Church to reach a British court, with all previous complaints having been settled at an earlier stage.
With legal costs expected to spiral to more than £400,000, the total fee will be more than £1 million - thought to be the biggest award of its kind in the UK. Today's ruling means that Clonan, who fled to Australia where he died in 1998, has cost the Church nearly £1.5 million.
In January last year, the Church agreed to pay former alter boy Simon Grey, who was also abused by Clonan, £330,000 damages.
Lawyers acting for both 'A' and Mr Grey, a father-of- three from Leicester, said they were representing eight other victims allegedly abused by Clonan, and added that there were "probably many more".
They claim the Church failed to act against Clonan for years after abuse allegations were first made in 1974.
Helen Foord, of Wokingham-based solicitors Clifton Ingram, said: "It's a case-by-case basis. We will be looking for a fair and just settlement.
"I don't think it would be unreasonable to say they could be of the same order.
"This could quite feasibly cost the Church millions and millions of pounds."
The Archdiocese of Birmingham said it was only aware of two other cases and that it was insured against the settlements.
In his judgment today, Mr Justice Christopher Clarke said of the 'A' case: "The abuse was regular - between one and three times a week - and progressive.
"The abuse went undetected for so long because, initially, 'A' did not comprehend what was going on, and latterly he was too afraid to speak, thinking that he would not be believed, as Father Clonan told him would be the case."
The Church admitted legal liability "for failing to prevent these activities".
Archdiocese of Birmingham spokesman Peter Jennings said the church hoped the settlement would bring an end to the "distress and anguish" the victim suffered.
He said: "The Archdiocese deeply regrets that a priest should have totally misused his position of trust in such a way and apologises again to those who have been abused and offended.
"This trust was placed in him by the Church and especially by his parishioners. The damage that he has done is deep and lasting."
He added: "The disappearance and rest of the priest accused of this abuse means that he will never be brought before a court of justice in this country.
"He will, however, have to answer for his behaviour before the throne of God."
Clonan came to the church in Westhill Road, Coundon, Coventry, as buttistant priest in 1972 and also became a governor of the Cardinal Newman Secondary School.
Mr Justice Clarke said: "He came from a wealthy background, had property in Ireland and appeared to be a breath of fresh air.
"He was trusted and admired. The abuse was the grossest breach of the trust that 'A' and his family placed in him."
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After 'A' told of the abuse at the age of 22 in 1992, Father Clonan fled from British police to Ireland and then Australia, while 'A's' parents, devout Roman Catholics, moved to Ireland. Since 2000, 'A' has lived in a mental health home.
Mr Justice Clarke said: "'A' told no one of the abuse until 1992. Thereafter his life fell apart.
"He has never been the same again and has never regained the same enthusiasm for life that he once had.
"He became seriously ill in mind and has since then been receiving treatment for his mental illness.
"The revelation of the abuse had severe consequences for his family."
In a statement released after the decision, lawyers for 'A' said: "We consider that the size of the judge's award reflects the magnitude of the consequences of the Archbishop's breach of his duty of care to 'A'.
"We very much hope that the Church will now offer realistic compensation to all those who have been loveually abused by Catholic priests, so that victims and their families can be spared the trauma of giving evidence and communities can put such episodes behind them.
"The Church has said that it will listen to and deal with all claims of loveual abuse, whenever that abuse may have occurred, and yet all too often we find the Church denying claims to compensation on the ground that the abuse occurred too long ago to be considered."
After revealing the abuse, 'A' turned to cannabis and alcohol and in January 1993 took a drug end.
He complained of feeling suicidal and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after becoming violent and abusive towards people, including his own parents.
Today he was awarded compensation of £635,684, including general damages of £50,000, as well as £138,450 for past loss of earnings and £432,994 for future loss of earnings. He was also awarded £5,000 for cognitive therapy and £9,240 towards the cost of future care.
Another victim of a West Midlands paedophile priest welcomed today's decision.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was abused by Eric Taylor at the Father Hudson's Home in Coleshill, Warwickshire, in the 1950s and 1960s.
Last year, he received just over £38,000 in compensation but said he would not have taken legal action had the Roman Catholic Church apologised sooner.
"It's never about the money," he said. "We only got £30,000-odd each but what we did get was accountability and an apology.
"This is typical of the Roman Catholic Church who have refused to apologise and be accountable. This is the court saying, 'you are accountable'."
The Catholic Church in the United States has had to pay out more than one billion dollars as a result of love abuse by priests.
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