CANADA
London Free Press
By Randy Richmond, The London Free Press
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
To his family and friends, John Kerr was a lovable raconteur, treasured companion, and an avid skier and sailor.
To the victims in a church sexual abuse case, “Hammer” Kerr’s groundbreaking ruling redeemed their faith in justice.
John (Brud) Kerr died Jan. 28. two days short of his 86th birthday after a life on the bench, the water, the ski hills and among beloved family and friends.
His 60th wedding anniversary would have been in March. …
There were so many court decisions, she can’t remember them all, Camille said.
But she expressed pride over one of Kerr’s toughest, the civil court decision in 2004 that awarded $1.39 million to the Swales family in a groundbreaking case against the Roman Catholic Diocese of London and disgraced priest Barry Glendinning.
It was believed to be the first case awarding damages to parents of sexual abuse victims, and among the highest payouts for pain and suffering awarded in Canada.
“He restored our faith in justice,” John Swales said. The ruling signalled to abuse victims across the country they would be heard, Swales said.
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