Catholic Diocese and B.C school settle abuse lawsuit for $3.4M

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George, B.C., has recently settled for $3.4 million in a case involving alleged sexual abuse by a school teacher. The settlement aims to provide some degree of restitution to the victim for the harm inflicted upon him by his abuser. The lawsuit involved the diocese, St. Thomas More Collegiate, and former teacher Alfred Patrick Quigley, who was accused of sexually abusing the anonymous plaintiff in the 1990s.

Quigley, who taught at O’Grady Catholic High School in Prince George, was accused of grooming the plaintiff before sexually assaulting him in 1993 and 1994. Despite denying the allegations in the lawsuit, Quigley did not participate in the case as it approached trial and could not be reached for comment through his former lawyer. The allegations against him were not proven in court, and he has not faced criminal charges in B.C. Quigley, now 75 and believed to be living in Newfoundland, has been named in other lawsuits containing similar allegations that have yet to be heard or settled.

The settlement was reached just before the case was scheduled for a 23-day trial in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. Lawyer Sandra Kovacs, who represented the anonymous plaintiff, stated that while the settlement offers financial restitution, it is also about holding the system accountable. Kovacs emphasized the importance of addressing the culture of secrecy and clericalism within the Catholic Church, which she believes enables abuse to occur and continue unchecked.

The Diocese and St. Thomas More Collegiate expressed regret for the harm caused to the victim and emphasized their commitment to supporting his healing process. They acknowledged their legal responsibility arising from the actions of their employee and hoped that the resolution would bring some closure to the victim and other abuse survivors. St. Thomas More Collegiate did not respond to requests for comment by the deadline.

Cases of institutional abuse survivors, particularly those involving the Catholic Church, highlight the need for systemic changes to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. Kovacs stressed the importance of addressing the underlying issues within the church to ensure accountability and prevent further harm. The settlement serves as a step towards justice for the victim and a reminder of the ongoing work needed to protect vulnerable individuals within institutions.