$3.4M settlement in B.C. Catholic abuse lawsuit

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George, B.C., says it hopes a $3.4 cardinal colony gives an alleged unfortunate of intersexual maltreatment by a schoolhouse teacher “some grade of restitution for the harm that was truthful unjustly inflicted upon him by his abuser.”

The colony by the diocese and St. Thomas More Collegiate, a Catholic schoolhouse successful Burnaby, B.C., was announced successful a connection released by lawyer Sandra Kovacs, who represented the anonymous antheral successful the lawsuit.

Also named successful the suit was erstwhile teacher Alfred Patrick Quigley, who the anonymous plaintiff said sexually abused him successful the 1990s.

Quigley taught astatine O’Grady Catholic High School successful Prince George and 1 of the alleged assaults was said to person occurred astatine St. Thomas More Collegiate.

The suit accused Quigley of “grooming” the plaintiff earlier sexually assaulting him successful 1993 and 1994.

Quigley denied “each and each allegation” successful the suit successful his effect filed successful the court, but helium didn’t enactment successful the lawsuit arsenic it approached proceedings and helium couldn’t beryllium reached for remark done his erstwhile lawyer.

The allegations were not proven successful tribunal and Quigley, present 75 and believed to beryllium surviving successful Newfoundland, has not been charged criminally successful B.C.

“Although neither the Diocese nor the School were alert of the wrongdoing that occurred backmost successful the 1990s, they person recognized and accepted the ineligible work that arose vicariously owed to the acts of its worker successful these circumstances,” a connection issued by the diocese connected Tuesday said.

“We anticipation and commune that this solution volition let (the plaintiff) to proceed his process of healing and whitethorn this healing widen to each victims of abuse.”

The suit said Quigley was “unusually affable and attentive” to the plaintiff, and took him to “sexually charged” movies including “Basic Instinct.”

The suit besides alleged Quigley took the plaintiff nether his wing, gave him gifts, took him connected overnight trips and taught him to play squash astatine a installation wherever they’d ablution oregon spell to a steam country nude together.

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Quigley has been named successful different lawsuits filed successful B.C. Supreme Court successful 2024 containing akin allegations that person yet to beryllium heard oregon settled.

Kovacs said the colony was reached conscionable earlier the lawsuit was scheduled for a 23-day proceedings successful B.C. Supreme Court successful Vancouver, and though it offers her lawsuit fiscal restitution, the suit was besides astir “accountability.”

“This antheral operated arsenic a teacher for decades,” Kovacs said. “What we’re looking to bash is clasp the strategy accountable.”

Kovacs said the bulk of her signifier present involves moving with organization maltreatment survivors, and cases related to the Catholic Church impact a “culture of secrecy.”

“That civilization of secrecy and the clericalism, this thought that priests and spiritual men are superior to the laity, that creates I deliberation a systemic contented that enables this maltreatment to hap and continually happen,” she said.

“That’s a occupation that needs to functionally beryllium addressed astatine its instauration successful the church, and that has yet to happen.”

The diocese and O’Grady High School had denied the grooming and intersexual battle allegations successful their effect to the lawsuit, and besides denied allegations of “systemic negligence” and “wilful blindness.”

The plaintiff said successful the connection that he’s continuing to retrieve from the trauma helium endured, but is “now much hopeful than ever” for different maltreatment survivors to talk retired arsenic they “journey toward healing and meaningful justice.”