CONNECTICUT
WTNH
By Scott Powell, WTNH Assignment Editor
Published: March 23, 2015
NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) — The Catholic Diocese of Norwich will pay $1.1 million dollars as part of a settlement released today in a priest molestation case.
The lawsuit stems from an unidentified Massachusetts woman’s claim that Father Thomas Shea molested her about 60 times between the ages of 3 and 16-years-old. The settlement comes one day before the jury trial was to start on Tuesday and following three day mediation sessions.
In the claim, Jane Doe #2 says Father Shea french kissed her, fondled her and touched her inappropriately. At least 15 young girls had been molested by Shea in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. Six other victims were prepared to testify that they had been molested by Shea and had complained to church officials but nothing was done about it. The Diocese paid $1.1 million to another victim, known as Jane Doe #1, in 2013. That settlement was also reached just as that trial was to begin in the same courtroom in Hartford Superior Court where Jane Doe #2 was to be tried this week.
Attorneys Kelly E. Reardon and Robert I. Reardon, Jr. of The Reardon Law Firm of New London successfully represented both Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, as well as representing several other childhood molestation victims of priests in lawsuits settled with the Diocese of Norwich and Hartford.
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