CONNECTICUT
The Hartford Courant
By EDMUND H. MAHONY, emahony@courant.com
The Hartford Courant
7:36 p.m. EST, February 10, 2012
WATERBURY —
A former altar boy who was sexually abused by a priest 30 years ago won a $1 million damage award Friday after a jury found that the Archdiocese of Hartford was reckless and negligent when it appointed the priest, who had a history of child abuse, as principal of the boy’s parochial grammar school.
“This is validation that things that occurred in the past were not my fault or the fault of any of the victims,” said the former altar boy, now an adult businessman and father of two. “This is the most important part of my healing process. This predator was placed in a position where he could hurt me. I’m hoping that other victims can begin their healing process and the church does the right thing going forward.”
An emotional, civil jury of four women and two men delivered the verdict at mid- morning Friday after barely four hours of deliberation. The finding for the victim, identified in court papers as Jacob Doe, followed what is believed to be the first public trial of a sexual abuse claim against the archdiocese.
Some jurors were still trying to compose themselves as they left the courthouse.
“We were trying so hard to do what was right by everybody, and I don’t think I can talk right now,” said forewoman Mary Pat Noonan. “We were working very hard together to be fair … and we are very proud of the job we did.”
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