CTV
January 21, 2011
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110121/priest-abuse-cases-settlements-110121/
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| Settlement lawyer Paul Ledroit is seen speaking about the $1.5 million settlement for the N.S. abuse victims. |
A Roman Catholic diocese will pay out about $1.5 million to six people in a sex abuse case that has been settled in southwestern Nova Scotia, a lawyer for the men and women said Thursday.
Paul Ledroit said six of eight claims were settled with the Yarmouth diocese during a mediation process that began last Friday in Halifax and wrapped up Monday.
The six people, whose claims were mediated separately, received varying amounts of money. Ledroit would not elaborate.
In an interview, the lawyer expressed disappointment over the amounts, but he said ultimately the legal process is about healing.
"The diocese paid more than they expected to pay, and I got less than what I had hoped to obtain," Ledroit said from London, Ont.
He didn't disclose what he had been seeking.
Ledroit said the eight claims were filed by four men who alleged they were abused as children by Rev. Adolphe LeBlanc, and by four women who said they were victims of Rev. Eddie Theriault. Both priests are now dead.
Ledroit would not say which of the eight cases were settled.
The abuse, he said, is alleged to have occurred in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in Digby and Yarmouth counties. The victims ranged in age from three years old to about 15 or 16 during the time of the alleged abuse.
Ledroit said the settlements do not contain a public admission of guilt from the diocese.
In a statement, the Halifax archdiocese confirmed that some cases were settled, but it wouldn't discuss specifics.
"The diocese of Yarmouth has been facing more than 20 cases of sexual abuse," read the statement.
"In all of these cases, the preferred process is to reach an appropriate settlement through negotiations in a process that is respectful of the victim and with fair consideration for the legal obligations of the diocese."
Marilyn Sweet, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said Archbishop Anthony Mancini was unavailable for further comment.
Raymond Boudreau of Wedgeport, N.S., said he was among the six cases that received a settlement. He also expressed some disappointment over the dollar figure.
"I made a promise to myself that I would go through it never mind (the money), but money wise, it was no big amount for me."
Boudreau said he was sexually abused many times between the ages of 11 and 15 by LeBlanc. The abuse stopped, he said, when he got the courage to tell the priest, "You will never touch me again."
While Boudreau, 67, said his emotional ordeal would never be over, the legal process fulfilled a commitment he made decades ago.
"I made myself a promise that before I die, I would expose this priest for what he really was."
Ledroit said he remains hopeful the two other cases will be settled before a trial.
He said the worst form of sexual abuse against a child is at the hands of a priest. "A child looks towards a priest like God, a priest has control over your soul, he has the power to forgive your sins or not forgive them, the power to send you to hell," he said.
"So you can imagine a young child, the fear of saying 'No' to a priest, you just couldn't possibly do that."
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