By Walt McClure
Fox 23
February 3, 2011
http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/UPDATE-Alleged-victims-take-the-stand-in-Mercure/qdr6vB8U7kWYIEZ3IMAAyQ.cspx
Two men who say they were molested as children by defrocked priest Gary Mercure testified at his trial in Berkshire County Thursday.
The men were altar boys in the 1980s at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Queensbury when Mercure was assigned there. He also served at parishes in Albany and Troy before being removed from the ministry in 2008 after abuse allegations surfaced.
The trial is taking place in Massachusetts because alleged incidents of abuse occurred there and unlike New York, the statute of limitations to prosecute had not run out yet.
A now 35-year-old alleged victim testified that the abuse began when he was seven or 8-years-old after his parents had asked Mercure to counsel him following the death of a close relative. He says "He would make me pray and close my eyes and that was how he would get to touch me." He also claims the abuse escalated and continued for several years, including during a 1986 hiking trip to the Great Barrington area.
A now 34-year-old alleged victim testified saying his abuse began when Mercure counseled him while his parents went through a separation and divorce and included allegedly being sexually assaulted by Mercure during a ski trip to the old Brodie Mountain in 1989. He says "He told me not to say anything. He said it was my fault, that no one would believe me, that my parents would never get back together if I told anyone."
Prior to the testimony, in opening arguments, Berkshire County First Assistant District Attorney Paul Caccaviello talked of how Mercure allegedly "began to target" the boys, "insinuated himself into their families," and then allegedly "raped and sexually abused them."
Defense attorney Michael Jennings said his client had "been dragged into the public square", and had "the long arm of the Commonwealth pointed at him and told he is a rapist of boys."
FOX23 News has chosen not to use the men's names because they are alleged victims of sexual abuse.
FOX23's Walt McClure was in court and will have more on the testimony and what could be ahead in the trial on FOX23 News at 5.
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Opening arguments will begin Thursday in the trial of a former priest.
Gary Mercure is accused of molesting two boys in in Massachusetts back in the 1980's.
He has pleaded not guilty.
The 62-year-old also served at St. Mary's in Glens Falls, Our Lady of the Annunciation in Queensbury, St. Teresa of Avila in Albany and Sacred Heart in Troy.
He was also accused of sexually assaulting several boys in Albany and Warren counties, but wasn't charged.
Email: waltmcclure@fox23news.com
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