Fr. Brendan Smyth

Order: OPraem
Ordained: 1951
Status: Convicted

Died: 08/22/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Providence RI

From Ireland. Full name John Gerard Brendan Smyth. Worked in RI, ND and MA in the US. Likely abused over 50 boys and girls, in Ireland and the US. Sentenced to four years in jail in Ireland in 1995 on 17 counts of assaulting five girls and four boys 1964-1988. Sentenced in 7/1997 to 12 years for abusing 20 boys and girls. Died in prison in 8/1997. Two people sued Smyth’s order in 6/2010. Settlements 1998-1999 to three Dublin relatives who sued the Kilmore bishop after finding the Diocese knew Smyth abused children prior to his abusing them. Denied by a court of appeals in 11/2015; appealed in 2/2016. Lawsuit filed in 6/2008 in Providence RI claiming abuse in 1968 of a boy and girl; dismissed due to the statute of limitations. In 9/2016 one of the two filed a complaint with the RI State Ethics Commission against Supreme Court judge Francis X. Flaherty, who oversaw the ruling; Flaherty had not disclosed his leadership role with a Catholic nonprofit. The Commission ruled “probable cause” in 4/2017. Included on the Providence diocese’s list of credibly accused 7/1/2019. On the Fargo diocese’s list 1/2/2020.

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