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	US Victim of Sex Abuse Set to Appeal Damages Ruling By Ralph Riegel Irish Independent [Ireland] January 15, 2007 http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=184&si=1754872&issue_id=15112 A Landmark abuse case is to be brought before the California Court of Appeals. The US victim of former priest Oliver O'Grady is attempting to make an Irish diocese financially liable for the abuse he suffered. The move came after the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly last month successfully sought to have the lawsuit against it dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. The case has been fought by the Catholic Church amid fears that, if it is successful, it will create a nightmare scenario whereby church bodies would be financially responsible for events that occurred in other jurisdictions. But now the Irish Independent can reveal that: * The US victim has lodged papers with the California Court of Appeals against the ruling in the California Superior Court. * A second case was filed against the archdiocese and the paedophile cleric, Fr Oliver O'Grady, involving a new victim. * The details of the abuse will be passed on to the gardai. The appeal is founded on fresh details of links between the archdiocese and church bodies in California. Fr O'Grady was trained and ordained in Thurles within the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly before he was assigned to a California diocese. During his stay in the US, he subjected youngsters to such appalling abuse he was dubbed the 'Hannibal Lecter' of clerical paedophiles. Fr O'Grady was himself abused as a child before proceeding to abuse the children of parishioners in their homes or while they were serving as altar boys. His youngest victim was just nine months old. The most disturbing revelations contained within the lawsuit involve the sexual activities of Fr O'Grady. One document described how he developed a fetish for wearing women's clothing, particularly underwear "which he sometimes wore under his priestly garb". It was also revealed that Fr O'Grady regularly took female parts in theatrical presentations while he was a student at St Patrick's Seminary College. During his seminary years Oliver O'Grady participated in drama presentations in which he wore women's clothing - prompting one reviewer to note that 'he seemed at home in the part', another document disclosed. The Catholic Church has resisted any attempt to link abuse in one jurisdiction with church organisations in another country. The Cashel and Emly diocese insisted it had acted properly at all times and should not be responsible for events that occurred in California. The belief is that if a landmark test case establishes such a trans-national link, the financial consequences for the church of fighting international compensation cases could prove astronomical. In the US alone, the Church is facing abuse lawsuits worth an estimated $2bn. The compensation already paid out in terms of Fr O'Grady's abuse in California alone is in excess of $23m. Fr O'Grady (60) is believed to be based in Dublin, although after his deportation from the US he did spend time living in Thurles where he was ordained. The case before the California Court is expected to be heard by June. Ralph Riegel
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