FLORIDA
Belfast Telegraph
A Co Tyrone priest living in the US has launched a libel case in Florida after he accused the Catholic Church there of orchestrating a child abuse cover-up.
Strabane native Fr John Gallagher is suing the Palm Beach Diocese following his successful efforts two years ago to prosecute a fellow priest for showing child porn images to a teenager.
Fr Gallagher’s efforts won him praise from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office but condemnation from the Palm Beach Diocese, and particularly Bishop Gerald Barbarito.
The bishop is also being placed on notice to appear at a deposition in this case.
The 23-page lawsuit, filed yesterday in Palm Beach Circuit Court, accuses the diocese of orchestrating a cover-up and campaign of intimidation, slander and libel directed at Fr Gallagher and effectively destroying his ability to remain a priest.
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