Former priest sued by victim

Former priest sued by victim

12 December 2012

A VICTIM of paedophile priest Daniel Curran has received a five figure sum to settle a lawsuit taken over the sexual abuse he suffered, his lawyer has revealed.

The man brought a

civil claim against Curran (62), of Bryansford Road in Newcastle, for assaulting him when he was an 11 year-old boy more than 20 years ago.

The out-of-court settlement was reached in October but details have only recently been made public.

The former priest, who is known to have abused more than a dozen boys over a period of up to 17 years, is currently serving a four-year jail sentence for attacks on two boys at his family holiday home near Tyrella, between 1989 and 1994.

Curran had been serving as a priest in west Belfast at the time and took his victims for nights away in what they thought was a chance to escape from violence in the city. Instead, he plied them with drink and sexually abused them.

Proceedings were issued against Curran on behalf of one of those he assaulted in the late 1980s.

The victim’s solicitor, Hugh Leslie, of John. J. Rice and Co., confirmed that an out-of-court settlement had been reached in the case which was also brought against the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr. Noel Treanor.

Mr. Leslie also stressed the need for a full inquiry into clerical abuse.

“My client is pleased that the abuse he suffered at the hands of this priest, now convicted and serving a sentence of imprisonment, has been recognised by the bishop,” he said.

“Even though no apology was offered, the five-figure sum reflects the psychiatric damage that the assault has had on my client over more than two decades.

“This settlement should give hope to other victims and strengthens the need for a full clerical and historical abuse inquiry to be undertaken.”