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Fallen from Grace

By Megan Terlecky
KGAN
May 16, 2008

http://www.kgan.com/csArticles/articles/000068/006825.htm

[Note: KGAN posted this transcript of Terlecky's video report. We have added stills from the video to this transcript, as well as links to three documents shown in the video.]

The priest came from Boston. He was one of the most senior priests in the Boston archdiocese until the 2002 sex abuse scandal. The scandal rocked the church. Hundreds of victims came forward. Millions of dollars paid out.

Some accused priests are now in jail, others removed from the church without prosecution. And one of those accused priests lives in Washington, Iowa.

David Carney grew up in Boston. He's never been to Cedar Rapids or Iowa before.

He's here now because of one man

Carney says, "At one time I blamed myself, I did you know, but I don't now, I know better."

A man who Carney says changed his life., "I wish I had killed him right then and there."

We found Fred Ryan in Washington, Iowa, living near a daycare and 3 blocks away from a junior high school.

David Carney's first encounter with Fred Ryan starts when he was just 13 years old.

Carney says, "It was freshman year at Catholic Memorial"

Hockey was his life. "My dream was to play in the NHL," says Carney.

But it was making varsity football that changed the course of his life forever.

Carney says, "This is when I met the devil. His name is Fred Ryan. I thought he was a good guy. He is a priest he is supposed to be a good guy right? I automatically I trusted him."

So David says he befriended Ryan, "He gave me a ride home."

Then David says dinner with drinks, "There was a bottle of coke and he said do you want some. And in all reality, it was wine."

David claims the priest then took him to his office David says to show him some pro-hockey memorabilia.

Carney says, "You look at his wall and it is twice the size of that wall with all boys pictures on it. Not nude some with shirts off but thousands of pictures of boys that struck a core."

David claims that is where Ryan first touched him.

Carney says, "About 2 weeks after that he comes over and goes you know I really am sorry there was not, I didn't try to do anything. He said just let me make it up to you I'll take you out to eat so I said alright, I want to bring a friend with me thinking I'll protect myself right, so I bring a friend with me we go out, a bottle of wine, another bottle of wine."

The next thing David says he remembers is waking up.

Carney says, "I'm coming too in the chancery and he is taking pictures of me nude."

What was your reaction when you realized the situation?

Carney says, "It was like my soul was ripped was ripped right out of me."

So this whole time you were afraid that he had these pictures of you?

Carney says, "Ya, so I didn't know what to say to anybody or not say to anybody. I wanted to kill him, I was not afraid to kill him, I was not afraid to kill him, at 13 years old I was not afraid to kill him. That's why I let him take me down away with another friend of mine."

What David claims happened that night changed David forever.

Carney says, "I quit hockey, I turned to alcohol and I left that school."

David says he was molested.

Carney says, "This has been haunting me for years it really hasi don't sleep, it's a nightmare because it's so much more than you know."

The graphic allegations outlined in court documents. David came forward in 2002 and sued the catholic church. Fred Ryan resigned that year. David settled with the church. And in 2006... Ryan was stripped of his priesthood. Defrocked. He can no longer receive *any* financial support from the church. The 70 year old can no longer perform any church services. And according to the rules of the Catholic Church under Canon Law [see canon law website shown in video], this happens quote: "to priests only for the gravest of reasons."

Carney says, "I am not the only man that Fred Ryan abused, I'm just the one who could come here and speak."

We found Fred Ryan, now 70 years old, he is not in jail. He's living in one of the best 100 small towns in America: Washington, Iowa.

Carney says, "That's him. That's one hundred percent him."

Ryan lives in a house less than 2,000 feet from a Jr. High, 3 houses down from an in home day care.

Jerry Dunbar, the Washington County Sheriff says, "There is a 2000 foot rule in Iowa. If he is 2000 feet from a daycare or a childcare facility a school then he would have to move."

But that law only applies to convicted sex offenders. Fred Ryan has only been accused, he's never been convicted. So Fred Ryan can live where ever he chooses.

Dunbar says, "As the law looks at it this is just a normal citizen that has moved into our community so we have to treat him just like anybody else."

Carney says, "I've got to tell theses kids, these mothers and these fathers these parishioners that he is a molester believe me. Believe me he is an evil man.

We went to find out about Fred Ryan ourselves.

Fred Stark, Ryan's neighbor, says "I know him when he moved in here. He's a good neighbor"

One of Ryan's neighbors is also a City Council Member. Stark says, "If you ever need anything for help he's the person who would always be willing to help out."

We talked to Ryan's priest.

Father Ed O'Melia, from St James Catholic Church Rectory says, "He's a good guy, he comes to daily mass, almost always comes to daily mass."

But when we asked about Ryan's connection to the church in Boston. Father O'Melia said, "No comment."

When we inquired further, Father Ed O'Melia said, "End of interview."

So we went straight to the source, Fred Ryan himself. He confirmed he was formerly of the Church in Boston.

Ryan says, "I'm in retirement and I'm trying to just learn and live and respect people." But did not comment about the allegations against him.

What if he's just trying to live out the rest of his years, keeping to himself mind his own business, he hasn't been convicted of anything shouldn't he be allowed stay where he is?

Carney says, "Why should I allow you to walk away and live life and your just going to keep abusing kids until you die."

If you could talk to him now what would you say?

Carney says, "I'd *** choke him!"

Do you think you could ever forgive him?

Carney says, "Never, I'd like to forgive people you know. I've asked god for forgiveness for you, let god forgive you I'm not going to forgive you."

David Carney has come to Iowa to tell his story and to follow a new dream.

Carney says, "The old ones they are gone but I can make new dreams and my dream is just to watch out for children and predators like Fred Ryan and make sure they don't re-offend."