CHARLOTTETOWN (CANADA)
Saltwire Network [Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada]
August 22, 2025
By Terrence McEachern
A former P.E.I. Roman Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an altar boy in the late 1980s.
Brendon Earl Gallant, 80, pleaded guilty to indictable sexual assault on Aug. 21 in provincial court in Georgetown. Gallant appeared in court with his lawyer, Peter Ghiz. A publication ban is in place, preventing the release of information that could identify the male victim.
With the guilty plea in place, Crown attorney John Diamond stayed an additional charge of sexual interference involving touching a person under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose.
The facts
Diamond then read in court an agreed statement of facts. He said that the victim reported historic sexual abuse by Gallant to the RCMP on March 3, 2023. The police investigation revealed that Gallant was assigned to St. Margaret’s parish in Kings County and met the victim in the summer of 1988. Gallant knew the victim’s parents and knew the victim through his participation in the church, including as an altar server.
Gallant took an interest in the victim, including taking him to the rectory. The victim was excited that an adult was taking an interest in him at the time. The victim stayed at the rectory with Gallant for overnight visits.
The sexual abuse occurred at the rectory and involved fondling with Gallant’s hands on the victim’s body and private parts. The overnight visits occurred twice a month after mass and Gallant and the victim slept in the same bed.
The victim was also given alcohol on occasion and recalled an incident when he woke up feeling sore and went to the washroom. There was blood in the toilet and the victim believed there was an attempt to have penetrative sex with him.
The relationship between Gallant and the victim ended in the early 1990s. At that time, the victim’s relationship with the church came to an end. The victim kept the abuse by Gallant a secret but the emotional toll led to a dependence on alcohol and mental health issues, said Diamond.
Gallant interviewed by police
Gallant was interviewed by police on Nov. 2, 2023. He acknowledged being a priest at St. Margaret’s church and having a relationship with the victim during the relevant time period but did not provide significant details.
Gallant did admit that he asked the victim to come to his bed to have sex during the initial visit. Gallant denied to police that they slept together and denied that sexual abuse happened. Gallant also said to police that he didn’t have any other boys over for sleepovers.
Arrest
On March 29, 2025, Gallant was arrested by police. Gallant was emotional and remorseful but did not provide any details, said Diamond.
Judge Nancy Orr granted a request from Ghiz and ordered that a pre-sentence report be prepared to assist the court discussing Gallant’s background information and personal circumstances. Orr then adjourned sentencing to Oct. 9.
Gallant did not have a prior criminal record.