Man abused by priest wins £635,684

Coventry, England, United Kingdom --

A MAN who was left psychologically damaged after being systematically abused by a parish priest for ten years has been awarded more than £600,000 in compensation.

Lawyers acting for the victim of Father Christopher Clonan said they hoped that the award - thought to be the biggest of its kind in the UK - would force the Catholic Church to offer "realistic compensation" to other victims.

The 35-year-old man, who now suffers from schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder, was abused between the ages of seven and 18 by Clonan, his priest at Christ the King Church in Coventry.

The claimant, known as A, was awarded £635,684 by the High Court in Manchester after bringing a case against the Archbishop of Birmingham and the trustees of the Birmingham Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church.

After yesterday's judgment, "A"s legal firm, Wokingham-based Clifton Ingram, said it knew of at least eight other victims. It claims the Church failed to act against Clonan for years after the abuse allegations were first raised.

The award means that Clonan, who fled to Australia and is now believed to be dead, has cost the Church almost £1 million in compensation payments. Another victim was awarded £330,000 last year.

Read the article at Scotsman.com News Dated July 1, 2005

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