Catholic church pays for failure to protect abuse victim

One Crown Office Row and Wokingham-based Clifton Ingram have scored a major victory against the Roman Catholic church after securing record damages for a former alter boy who suffered years of abuse.

The £330,000 settlement, paid to victim Simon Grey, was agreed just eight days before the case was due to go to trial.

This is the second case that has been brought against the Catholic chruch in relation to Clonan, who is believed to have fled the UK in 1992.

Robert Seabrook QC and Justin Levinson, barristers at One Crown Office Row are handling a number of other cases of alleged abuse by Clonan. While the set is also preparing legal action against the Roman Catholic church for alleged negligence in relation to another priest, Father James Robinson.

Yesterday’s settlement related to an action brought by Grey against the Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, and the trustees of the Birmingham Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church which stated that they were negligent in failing to protect him.

Over a 20-year period, a number of allegations of abuse were made against Clonan.

The defendants retained Beachcroft Wansbroughs and Julian Goose QC of Zenith Chambers in Leeds.