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	Court Allows Former Altar Boy to Sue Catholic Church over Sex Abuse The Raw Story October 21, 2006 http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Court_allows_former_altar_boy_to_su_10212006.html Hong Kong- A court cleared the way for a former altar boy to sue a Catholic church in Hong Kong along with the ex-priest who was convicted of sexually abusing him more than 14 years ago, a news report said Saturday. The boy was 15 when Michael Lau, then a deacon in charge of altar boys at St Joseph's Catholic Church, abused him in a series of sexual assaults in his quarters and at a school between 1991 and 1992. The victim, known only as H suffered a mental breakdown following the incident and was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder. A report in the South China Morning Post said H believes the attacks contributed to his condition and that the church breached its duty of care by not protecting him from Lau. He also claims the church was negligent in failing to notify police after the abuse claims were first made. Lau, now 44, was only brought to trial more than 10 years after the incidents. He was sentenced to four-and-half years in prison in February 2003 after being convicted of indecent assault and gross indecency, but was freed in January 2006 after serving three years. The victim initiated the current action only after the trial. The Catholic Diocese denies liability and claims that too much time had passed between the assaults and the action by the victim. But on Friday, Deputy High Court Judge David Gill agreed it was not too late for legal action. He said the victim's mental condition meant he was not aware of his potential claim and gave him permission to continue with the action. The Catholic Diocese was reportedly studying the judgement.
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