For Immediate Release

Herman Law
October 14, 2014

http://www.hermanlaw.com/

Another child sex abuse lawsuit against Archdiocese of Miami alleges Father Neil Doherty drugged and sexually abused a 10-year-old boy

WHAT: JEFF HERMAN (www.hermanlaw.com), a nationally-recognized attorney for victims of sexual abuse, announces the filing of a lawsuit against ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI for the sexual abuse of a child by Father Neil Doherty, a priest sentenced last year to 15 years in prison for child sex crimes.

According to the Complaint:

JOHN DOE first met Father NEIL DOHERTY in or around 1989, when JOHN was ten years old and living in Liberty City, Miami. At all relevant times, DOHERTY worked as Pastor at the Holy Redeemer Parish, in Liberty City.

JOHN ran away from his foster mother to stay with his cousin in Miami. While JOHN was crying on the street, he met DOHERTY, who was driving by. DOHERTY told him that part of his job was to help troubled children. JOHN told DOHERTY that he ran away from his foster home and DOHERTY told JOHN he would help him find his birth mother.

DOHERTY took JOHN to a motel on Biscayne Boulevard. While in the room, DOHERTY gave JOHN a marijuana joint and a “soda”. Shortly therafter, JOHN passed out. When he came to, JOHN woke up feeling groggy and he noticed DOHERTY leering at him in a predatory-like manner.

On another occasion, DOHERTY drove past JOHN’s cousin’s house, wearing clergy attire. When JOHN noticed JOHN, DOHERTY invited JOHN into the car with him and again promised that he would help JOHN find his birth mother. DOHERTY drove JOHN to another motel on Biscayne Boulevard and again plied JOHN with marijuana and a “soda”. JOHN passed out. When he came to, JOHN was on his stomach as DOHERTY was sodomizing JOHN.

Doherty sexually abused other boys before, during, and after the time he abused John Doe, which was known to the Archdiocese and actively concealed.

JOHN DOE NO. 125 v. ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI was filed last week in Miami-Dade.

Jeff Herman, the attorney for the victim in this case, said: “According to our lawsuit, the Archdiocese of Miami chose to avoid scandal, in part by continuing to give Father Doherty unfettered access to boys, instead of taking action to protect children and help victims heal.”

CONTACT: KAYLA REPAN; krepan@hermanlaw.com; 305-931-2200 (OFFICE) or 561-302-1692 (CELL)