When it's Time to Get Help

Why the Antigonish Diocese Sexual Abuse Class Action Settlement is the Right Thing to do.

by John McKiggan

In 2002, Ronald Martin received a telephone call that his brother, David Martin, had been missing in the woods of British Columbia for 2 weeks. Sixteen days later David’s body was found, with a suicide note stating he had taken his life because he could not endure the pain caused by sexual abuse he had suffered as a child at the hands of Father Hugh Vincent MacDonald, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

A Promise

Ron Martin had been sexually abused by the same priest but neither brother was aware of what the other had suffered. On the day that Ron Martin had to identify his brother’s body, he made a promise that there would be accountability for the abuse they had suffered.

Bishop Raymond Lahey Resigns as Bishop of Diocese of Antigonish

by John McKiggan

Pope Accepts Lahey’s Resignation
The Pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop Raymond Lahey from the post of Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish.

I have received calls from victims wondering what effect the Bishop’s resignation will have on the Class action settlement to compensate survivors of sexual abuse by priests of the Antigonish Diocese.

Compensation Process Will Continue

Settlement in Antigonish Diocese Priest Sexual Abuse Class Action!

by John McKiggan

I am pleased to announce that Ronald Martin’s class action against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish on behalf of persons who were sexually abused by priests employed by the Diocese has been settled.

Settlement Agreement

At a press conference today, Ron Martin and Bishop Raymond Lahey signed a settlement agreement to resolve the class action lawsuit.

Bathurst Priest Arrested On Sexual Abuse Charges: Levi Noel

by John McKiggan

Bathurst Priest Arrested On Sexual Abuse Charges
A retired Roman Catholic Priest has been arrested in Bathurst, New Brunswick on charges of sexual abuse stemming back several decades.

CBC news has reported that 83 year old Levi Noel has been charged with 22 counts of sexual abuse. The assaults are alleged to have occurred between 1958 and 1978.

Police are asking anyone who has information about sexual abuse by the priest to contact them.

Sins of the Fathers: Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Dublin

by John McKiggan

The sexual abuse scandal in catholic schools in Ireland has documented a “substantial level of sexual abuse” in Catholic run schools in Ireland.

Now, TV3 has produced a documentary called Abuse of Trust: Sins of the Fatherswhich documents some of the horror stories of sexual abuse by priests who were part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin.

The documentary uncovers a pattern that has been repeated time and time again in countries around the world. Roman Catholic Priests sexually abusing children and persons of authority within the church covering up the allegations and moving sexually predatory priests from parish to parish.

Catholic Church Covered Up Child Sexual Abuse in Irish Schools: What else is new?

by John McKiggan

After ten years of investigations a government inquiry into sexual abuse in Catholic run schools, orphanages and hospitals has released an exhaustive and damning report.

Abuse Endemic
The inquiry commission uncovered:
…a substantial level of sexual abuse of boys in care that extended over a range from improper touching and fondling to rape with violence.
Corporal punishment in girls’ schools was:
pervasive, severe, arbitrary and unpredictable.
Church Knew About Dangers

The Commission determind that:
The recidivist nature of sexual abuse was known to religious authorities.
Church Concerned About Reputation, Not Risk to Children

Victim of Priest Sexual Abuse Receives 1.75 Million Dollar Settlement

by John McKiggan

The Roman Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario has agreed to pay Lou-Anne Soontiens $1,745,000.00, plus legal costs to compensate her for years of sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of Father Charles Sylvestre. The total value of the settlement is thought to be more than 2.2 million dollars.

Sylvestre, one of Canada’s most notorious pedophiles was convicted of sexually assaulting Sootiens.

CBC’s Fifth Estate aired a documentary about Sylvestre called “The Good Father”. As you will see from watching the documentary it is apparent that persons of authority within the Catholic Church knew about Sylvestre’s sexual abuse but did nothing to protect his victims.

Nova Scotia Sexual Abuse Claims Barred by Statute: Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims can Proceed

by John McKiggan

In two related decisions released last month, Justice Walter Goodfellow has ruled that the plaintiffs’ claims for compensation for assault and negligence as a result of childhood sexual abuse were statute barred. However, Goodfellow J. allowed the plaintiffs’ claims for compensation for breach of fiduciary duty to continue.

Robert Lawrence Borden and Leonard Anthony Smith were both former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children.

Borden and Smith have filed a proposed class action on behalf of all former residents of the school seeking compensation for assault and negligence as a result of sexual abuse they allege happened while they were residents were living in the Home for Colored Children.

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