NORTH ANDOVER (MA)
The Eagle-Tribune
July 18, 2018
By Mike LaBella
Lawrence – Outside St. Mary of the Assumption Parish late Wednesday morning, Robert Hoatson, president of Road to Recovery Inc., announced that a Roman Catholic order has agreed to pay $1 million to eight people who say they were sexually abused by the Revs. John Gallagher and Robert Turnbull during the 1970s and 1980s at Catholic schools in Lawrence and Reading.
Boston attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has been at the forefront of representing victims of clergy sexual abuse, said the settlement with his clients and the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova in the Philadelphia area was reached last month during mediation.
He said the settlement avoided bringing a lawsuit against the Augustinians. Hoatson, whose nonprofit charity in New Jersey assists victims of sexual abuse and encourages them come forward with their stories, made the announcement.
“We Augustinians, taking seriously allegations of misconduct in these cases that occurred approximately 40 years ago, have dedicated resources to investigate them,” Cher Rago, communications director for the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, said in addressing the settlement. “Because we are committed to justice in upholding the dignity of every person, and in a desire to promote healing, we have concluded the claims made against our Province. At the same time, we continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and protection of all children and adults.”
Garabedian said three of his clients, now adult women, were abused by a former parish priest who was also a coach at St. Mary’s in Lawrence between 1973 and 1976. The victims were 9 to 12 years old at the time.
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