February 14, 2005

Shanley to face `a living hell'

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Herald

By J.M. Lawrence
Monday, February 14, 2005

Few would doubt Paul Shanley is a marked man.

After sentencing tomorrow, the 74-year-old defrocked cleric convicted of raping a little boy 20 years ago will live in what one prisoners' rights advocate called ``a living hell'' for pedophile priests.

It was more than a year ago in state prison that guards nicknamed 68-year-old defrocked priest John Geoghan ``Lucifer'' and harassed him with disciplinary violations leading to his transfer from medium to maximum security, where a fellow inmate stomped and strangled him to death on Aug. 23, 2003.

Department of Correction acting Commissioner Kathleen Dennehy said in an interview that many reforms have been instituted since Geoghan's murder, bringing a new era of professionalism.

``We've clarified our vision, our mission, our culture,'' she said, ticking off a list of changes surrounding the handling of abuse complaints to better managing protective-custody units.

Dennehy declined to speak specifically about Shanley's safety in the system but said her administration is requiring a high level of accountability from staff and supervisors, in addition to a revised training program for new recruits.

Posted by kshaw at February 14, 2005 07:24 AM