Clerical sexual abuse victim gets €300,000 in compensation
The Diocese of Ferns eventually admitted the truth to the High Court: it was negligent, and it apologised unreservedly to Mr O’Gorman.
Bishop Eamonn Walsh agreed to pay Mr O’Gorman €300,000 in compensation.
It is the ninth settlement in the Wexford diocese. As many as 11 other cases are pending. Two other, unnamed victims of clerical sexual abuse have already agreed settlements.
Drained, relieved and emotional, Mr O’Gorman yesterday said the settlement was a watershed.
“That such an admission of negligence should have been heard before the High Court is for me an historic moment.
“I hope above all else that it will mark an end to the adversarial and legalistic approach adopted by bishops and Church leaders to people who have experienced rape and sexual abuse perpetrated by priests.”
In the High Court statement, Bishop Walsh admitted negligence and agreed to pay compensation - later revealed by Mr O’Gorman to be €300,000.
The statement said Bishop Walsh “sincerely regrets the distress, trauma and hurt” caused to Mr O’Gorman by virtue of the acts of sexual abuse perpetrated on him between 1981 and 1983 by the late Fr Sean Fortune.
The statement added: “He further acknowledges the failure of the bishop at that time to recognise and act on the threat posed by the late Fr Fortune to Colm O’Gorman.
“Bishop Walsh wishes to apologise unreservedly to Colm O’Gorman for these failures and for the harm which he suffered in consequence.”
Speaking afterwards Mr O’Gorman said: “The day has finally arrived when the boy I was, when I was first raped by a Catholic priest, has been vindicated and acknowledged, when those directly responsible for that rape through their acts of negligence have finally acknowledged that gross failure.”
Mr O’Gorman, now director of support group One in Four, said Dr Donal Herlihy was the bishop at the time the abuse happened and not Bishop Brendan Comiskey.
Mr O’Gorman said he had abandoned his action against the Vatican authorities, because the Papal Nuncio was claiming diplomatic immunity.
“I think this speaks volumes about the Vatican’s failures to respond effectively and meaningfully to the hurts and concerns of the wider Church. It is tantamount to moral abandonment of its own flock.”
