By Eva Hoare
The Chronicle-Herald
October 1, 2009
http://thechronicleherald.ca/News/1145349.html
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| Ronald Martin talks with reporters outside the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Halifax on Sept. 10. Mr. Martin launched a class-action lawsuit claiming the Antigonish diocese failed to protect children in its care when it became aware of alleged abuse by priests. Photo by ANDREW VAUGHAN |
Abuse victims’ lawyer deluged with calls after charges laid against Lahey
The Halifax lawyer who spearheaded the class action suit against the Antigonish diocese said he’s shocked at news that its former bishop, Raymond Lahey, is facing child pornography charges.
"I’m as surprised as anyone," said John McKiggan, who recently helped broker a historic $15-million settlement against the diocese on behalf of victims of sexual abuse by some of its priests extending as far back as 1950.
Mr. McKiggan said he only learned Wednesday of the child pornography charges against the former bishop and has been deluged with media calls.
The lawyer represents Ron Martin, who brought the sexual abuse case to the fore after learning that his brother David, who committed suicide seven years ago, had been abused by former priest Hugh Vincent MacDonald.
Mr. MacDonald is also alleged to have abused Ron Martin, and at the time of his death in 2004 he faced 27 charges, including rape and indecent assault, stemming from incidents with children aged eight to 15.
Ron Martin is also grappling with the news that Bishop Lahey has been charged, Mr. McKiggan said.
"Ron is also surprised and understandably distressed," he said. "It is certainly a shock to me and to my client. I’m sure there’ll be a number of people who are very surprised and distressed about it."
Mr. Martin was at work Wednesday evening and not immediately available for comment.
Bishop Lahey, 69, retired from his duties at the diocese on Saturday, saying he was in need of time for "renewal."
Officers with the Canada Border Services Agency did a check of his laptop computer when he arrived at the Ottawa airport from the U.S. on Sept. 15. He was released, but a forensic investigation later allegedly revealed pornographic images.
He was charged last Friday with possession and importation of child pornography, and a warrant was put out for his arrest, police said Wednesday.
"As my (law) partner would tell me, people have a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty," Mr. McKiggan said.
"We don’t know (anything), it’s so new we really don’t know anything more than anybody else. We’ll just have to wait and see until the dust settles."
The settlement will not be affected, Mr. McKiggan said.
"The class action has been certified and the settlement has been approved."
Under the settlement terms, the $15 million will be distributed among those known to have been sexually assaulted by a priest of the Catholic Episcopal Corp. of Antigonish since Jan. 1, 1950, The Canadian Press reported last week.
The court-ordered notice program concerning the settlement will be published starting today, Mr. McKiggan said. It’s expected the case will grow as news of the settlement spreads.
He said he couldn’t speculate as to whether any new clients would be contacting him as a result of the charges against Bishop Lahey.
"I’ve not had any calls from anybody alleging abuse by Bishop Lahey," he said. "That I can tell you emphatically."
In a statement after the $15-million settlement was reached, Bishop Lahey said the monetary award couldn’t fully compensate for the abuse, and he offered an apology for the crimes committed by some of the diocese’s priests.
"I want to formally apologize to every victim and to their families for the sexual abuse that was inflicted upon those who were instead entitled to the trust and protection of priests," he said.
Contact: ehoare@herald.ca
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