A Delaware parish has agreed to pay $2 million to a man who was sexually abused by a priest in the 1950s and 60s.
Attorneys for John Dougherty announced the settlement agreement Sunday.
In a lawsuit, Dougherty, a 66-year-old retired musician, charged that his parish priest - Father Edward B. Carley - brutally sexually abused and raped him hundreds of times from 1954-1961, beginning when he was a young ten-year-old altar boy.
The abuse took place in Carley’s bedroom in the St.Ann’s rectory, in Carley’s car, on trips and in other locations.
Carley was pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Wilmington. He served as a priest until 1993 and died in 1998. The Diocese of Wilmington has acknowledged that he molested several children.
St. Ann’s Parish will also issue a public statement of apology as part of the settlement.
“This is a tremendous victory for all survivors of abuse here in Delaware,” said Thomas
C. Crumplar, one of the attorneys for Dougherty. “John wishes to thank Judge Calvin L. Scott, Jr., for fairly presiding over his court case and the Delaware General Assembly for giving him the opportunity to have his day in court.”
The parish agreed last year to pay $1.5 million to another of Carley's victims, Douglas McClure.
