By Charles Webster
Asbury Park Press
January 15, 2010
http://www.app.com/article/20100115/NEWS/100116006/Late-teen-s-mom-a-reminder-at-coach-s-trial-
 |
| Jackie Clark is the mother of Andrew Clark Jr., who was killed by a train in Spring Lake in June 2008. His family sued Bartholomew McInerney, former baseball coach at St. Rose High School in Belmar, for sexual harassment, abuse and endangerment. |
As a dozen young men paraded to a witness stand in the last two weeks to tell jurors of sexually explicit conversations with former St. Rose High School baseball coach Bartholomew McInerney, a face in the front row of the courtroom served as a reminder of another alleged victim.
The American Red Cross
"I'll be here every day — as long as the trial takes. It's all about these boys who had the courage to come forward to tell the truth," explained Jackie Clark. Jackie Clark is the mother of Andrew Clark, an alleged 13th victim of the man known as "Coach Bart."
She believes alleged abuse committed by McInerney played a role in her son's untimely death on June 20, 2008. Andrew Clark, 18, died after he was struck by a train near the Wall Road crossing in Spring Lake, just hours after attending a graduation ceremony at Manasquan High School.
McInerney, 43, of Spring Lake Heights is charged with 12 counts of endangering the welfare of a child, involving sexually explicit conversations about masturbation and the sexual activity of 15- and 17-year-old boys from 2001 until his November 2007 arrest.
Clark can't discuss the details of her son's alleged abuse, because she filed a civil suit against McInerney on behalf of Andrew's estate in August 2008, alleging Andrew was "sexually abused, harassed and endangered" by McInerney, court records show. The complaint also names St. Rose High School in Belmar and the Diocese of Trenton.
That case remains on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial, which is expected to be in the hands of the jury sometime next week.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.