April 12, 2006

Priest cleared of abuse charges: The Rev. Murphy will return to St. Francis Xavier Church in Weymouth

WEYMOUTH (MA)
The Patriot Ledger

By DENNIS TATZ
The Patriot Ledger

The Rev. Charles J. Murphy is returning to St. Francis Xavier Church in Weymouth now that the archdiocese has cleared him of sexual abuse charges.

‘‘It was a nightmare for him,’’ Boston attorney Timothy O’Neill, who represented the Rev. Murphy in a lawsuit, said yesterday. ‘‘He has had tremendous support from the community. There was no credibility (in the charges) whatsoever. He’s a good man.’’

In August 2004, the Rev. Murphy, then 70, was placed on administrative leave following allegations that he molested a young girl years ago while serving as director of counseling at the former Boston School for the Deaf in Randolph.

The Archdiocesan Review Board investigating the alleged incidents recently determined they lacked validity.

Posted by kshaw at April 12, 2006 03:58 PM