Former Warwick Priest Charged with First-degree Sexual Assault
By W. Zachary Malinowski
A former priest was delivered to Superior Court in handcuffs on Friday and charged with five counts of first-degree sexual assault on two alleged victims in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Rev. Barry Meehan, 65, former pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Church, at 1799 Warwick Ave., in Warwick, pleaded not guilty to the charges through his defense lawyer, Kevin J. Bristow, of Providence. The indictment spelling out the charges was unsealed at 12:07 p.m. in the courtroom of Magistrate Judge Patricia Harwood. A clerk declined to release a copy of the indictment to The Providence Journal. Assistant Attorney General Maureen Keough sought to have Meehan held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions, seeing that a conviction “carries with it a significant sentence.’’ She also asked Harwood to order Meehan to surrender his passport and have no contact with the victims and complaining witnesses. Bristow countered that bail should be set because the sexual assault allegations had been swirling around the retired priest for 2 ? years. He said that Meehan is a lifelong Rhode Island resident and has proven that he does not intend to flee. He said the alleged sexual assaults took place in 1986, 1991 and 1992. Harwood set bail at $50,000 with surety, or $5,000 in cash In January 2013, Roman Catholic Diocese Auxillary Bishop Robert C. Evans announced Meehan’s resignation from the church following “credible” allegations of sexual abuse. Reading a statement on behalf of Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Evans said that Meehan “willingly offered his resignation to the diocese,” although he denied “any improper activity.” The diocese reported the allegations to the Rhode Island State Police, who investigated the case. Meehan was assigned to St. Timothy’s in 2002. From 1978 to 2002, he served at four other Rhode Island congregations. The Rhode Island Catholic Diocese of Providence posted a statement on their website Friday afternoon, after Meehan was charged, that said Bishop Tobin has alerted the Vatican on the charges and arrest: "In accordance with Church law, the allegations against Father Meehan were reported to the Vatican. Bishop Tobin has asked that Father Meehan be permanently removed from the priesthood. Father Meehan’s canonical status is being examined and the final disposition of this case will be determined by the Vatican. His faculties, or permission to function as a priest, have already been removed in accordance with The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." This story was posted at 1:05 p.m. and last updated at 1:55 p.m Contact: bmalinow@providencejournal.com
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