From left to right: Lawyer Rob Talach, victims David Turrill and Denis Robert, and Lawyer Aaron Lealess at a news conference, August 2011. (Photo by Dave Richie)
blackburnnews.com
May 2, 2014 10:17am
Nearly two dozen men have now come forward alleging sexual abuse by a late Tilbury priest.
In 2011, four men went public with claims they were sexually abused by Father Bernard Robert, while serving as altar boys at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church during the 1970s and 80s.
The victims’ lawyer Rob Talach says another 16 men have launched lawsuits against the priest, who died in 1996. “In addition to the 20, there’s another four that we’ve had contact with that, we’re not retained yet, but we’re aware of them and we’re aware of their abuse. So it’s been really an ongoing process.”
Talach says the initial four men have settled and received a total of about $550,000 from the Diocese of London.
Watch the video from the 2011 news conference launching the initial lawsuits against Father Robert.