GREEN BAY (WI)
WBAY
The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay says it has reached a settlement with two brothers who were abused by a priest, avoiding a new trial.
Todd and Troy Merryfield had a civil lawsuit against the diocese, saying Church officials were aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Father John Patrick Feeney before he abused the Merryfields as boys in 1978.
The Merryfields won their lawsuit last May and were awarded $700,000, but a new trial was ordered after concerns that a juror had an undisclosed bias. A re-trial was scheduled for this coming May.
The diocese did not disclose the terms of the settlement.
With Tuesday’s announcement, Bishop David Ricken issued the following statement:
First and foremost, I would like to say I am truly sorry to Todd Merryfield and Troy Merryfield, as well as their families, for the pain they have endured from child sexual abuse and the lawsuits that followed. I hope and pray that they can experience God’s healing presence within their hearts.
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