Priest at the Center of Multiple Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Dies

By Robert Townsend
The Fox 4
October 22, 2013

http://fox4kc.com/2013/10/22/priest-at-the-center-of-multiple-sexual-abuse-lawsuits-dies/

[with video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City priest who was named in a series of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse has passed away. Monsignor Thomas O’Brien died this week. Barbara Doris, who’s with “Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests” (SNAP), confirmed O’Brien died  over the weekend.

At present we do not know any more details about his death. O’Brien was at the center of more than two dozen lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. He was also among 12 current or former priests named in a 47-plaintiff case that the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese settled for $10 million in 2008.

O’Brien denied all abuse allegations. Six lawsuits against the diocese, and O’Brien, are pending.

In July the diocese settled a wrongful death suit for more than $2 million with the parents of Brian Teeman, whose family claimed Brian took his own life 30 years ago because of repeated sexual abuse by O’Brien.

“We’re relieved because this means he can no longer harm children and we fear, since he appeared to have molested throughout his lifetime, that children were still at risk,” Doris said.

FOX 4 reached out to O’Brien’s lawyer, the lawyer for the Teeman family as well as the diocese and have yet to hear back from any of those parties.